The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, on Tuesday received 180 Nigerian migrants, including women and children, who were voluntarily returned from Libya.
The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 8:15 p.m. aboard a chartered Buraq Airline flight, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). They were received at the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal.
The migrants, mostly women and children, were brought back from Libya under the voluntary return programme, with many of them previously held in detention facilities in Benghazi.
Speaking at the airport, IOM Sub-Head in Lagos, Ali Ali Ibrahim, said the exercise was part of ongoing humanitarian efforts to support stranded Nigerians abroad in collaboration with the Federal Government and international partners, including the European Union.
“We are here tonight to welcome home 180 Nigerian migrants from Libya after difficult journeys along migration routes,” Ibrahim said.
He explained that many of the migrants had left Nigeria in search of better opportunities but ended up facing severe hardship, uncertainty, and, in some cases, exploitation.
“Today, there is relief, but returning is only the first step. Working closely with the Government of Nigeria and with the support from the European Union, IOM is helping them return into a pathway toward recovery,” he added.
According to IOM figures, the returnees included 108 adult females and 45 adult males, bringing the total number of adults to 153. The group also included 17 children and 12 infants, with two of the children arriving without parents or guardians.
The agency noted that upon arrival, the returnees received health screening, counselling, and other reception support services. Those eligible will also benefit from reintegration assistance, including skills training, psychosocial support, and small business empowerment.
Ibrahim further revealed that in the past decade, more than 65,700 Nigerians have been safely returned under similar programmes, while over 52,200 have received reintegration support.
He stressed that with sustained collaboration and adequate support, return migration can offer affected individuals an opportunity to recover, rebuild their lives, and regain dignity.
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