NEMA receives 147 stranded Nigerians from Libya
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 147 stranded Nigerians who voluntarily returned home from Libya, where they had been trapped in difficult living conditions while attempting to migrate to Europe.
The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, late Tuesday night, aboard a chartered Al Buraq Air flight from Misrata, Libya, coordinated under the International Organization for Migration (IOM) assisted voluntary return programme.
Details of the arrival
Receiving the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, NEMA Director-General, Zubaida Umar, said the group comprised 81 females, 56 males, and 10 children, including four infants.
“These citizens were trapped in Libya under harsh conditions, some in detention centres, while others suffered exploitation and abuse. Through the support of IOM and the Federal Government, they are now safely back home,” Umar said.
She noted that the repatriation was part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian government and its international partners to ensure the safe and dignified return of citizens stranded abroad, particularly in North Africa and the Mediterranean region.
Health and reintegration support
Officials from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) were on hand to provide medical screening, profiling, and psychological support to the returnees.
“They will undergo basic medical checks and counselling before being given transport stipends to return to their various states,” Umar added.
She also urged the returnees to avoid irregular migration, emphasizing the dangers of travelling through the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea in search of better opportunities abroad.
Background
Libya remains one of the key transit points for African migrants attempting to reach Europe through the Central Mediterranean route. Many are intercepted by Libyan authorities and detained under dire humanitarian conditions before being rescued or repatriated.
According to IOM data, more than 2,000 Nigerians have been assisted to return home from Libya between January and October 2025 under the EU–IOM Joint Initiative on Migration Protection and Reintegration.
NEMA’s appeal
“We appeal to our youth to take advantage of the Federal Government’s empowerment and job creation programmes rather than embarking on risky journeys. The government remains committed to providing safer migration options,” the NEMA DG stated.
The returnees were later taken to a temporary shelter in Lagos for documentation and reintegration assistance.
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