The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Federal Government and the European Union (EU), has evacuated 180 stranded Nigerian migrants from Benghazi, Libya. This brings the total number of voluntary returnees under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme to 65,700 since 2017.
Details of the Evacuation
The returnees arrived aboard a special charter flight at the Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Tuesday night. The group comprised 108 adult females and 45 adult males, totaling 153 adults. Additionally, there were 17 children (7 female, 10 male) and 12 infants (8 female, 4 male). Notably, two of the children were unaccompanied.
Ali Ibrahim, IOM Head of Office in Lagos, who led the team to receive the returnees, explained that the evacuation was executed under the AVRR programme, heavily funded by the EU to rescue citizens stranded along irregular transit corridors. He noted the dangers of the migration route, stating, "You know it's a dangerous migration route so many things would have happened."
Reintegration Support
Upon arrival, the returnees are processed through an integrated care system designed to facilitate their transition back into Nigerian society. Ibrahim said, "After their return, we support them with assistance to reintegrate into the community to rebuild their lives." The support includes livelihood assistance, business aid, educational support, and other needs as they arise.
Surge in Irregular Migration Casualties
Statistical data from the agency revealed a sharp surge in irregular migration casualties, with 7,625 Nigerians voluntarily evacuated from northern Africa between January and June 2026 alone. This highlights the ongoing risks faced by migrants on irregular routes.
Promoting Safe Migration
Addressing concerns about returnees attempting migration again, Ibrahim clarified that while movement is a fundamental human right, the core objective of the AVRR intervention is to ensure future journeys are guided by legal channels and verified documentation. He emphasized, "Voluntary return means that you are a migrant, and you are in another country, and you find yourself in a stranded situation, and you make a choice to come back to your country of origin. Migration is a choice. What we are trying to promote is that that migration choice should be made right. We promote safe migration where we support access to the right information so that people can make the right choice."
Increased Repatriation Schedule
The IOM indicated that repatriation exercises have been scaled up to a weekly schedule across major entry ports, including Kano and Lagos. Additionally, daily commercial arrivals of rescued citizens are being processed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
