The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Federal Government and the European Union (EU), has evacuated 182 stranded Nigerian migrants from Benghazi, Libya. This brings the total number of voluntary returnees to 65,700 since 2017.
Evacuation Details
Ali Ibrahim, IOM Head of Office in Lagos, led the agency's team to receive the returnees. He stated that the evacuation was conducted under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme, primarily funded by the EU to rescue migrants stranded along irregular migration routes. The returnees arrived on a special charter flight at the Cargo Terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Tuesday night.
Demographics of Returnees
According to Ibrahim, the returnees consisted of 108 adult females and 45 adult males, totaling 153 adults. Additionally, there were 17 children (seven females and ten males) and 12 infants (eight females and four males). Notably, two of the 17 children returned unaccompanied, meaning without their parents.
“In total, there are 123 females and 59 males, making 182 returnees altogether. More importantly, we have two unaccompanied children; that is, they returned without their parents. You know it is a dangerous migration route, so many things could have happened,” Ibrahim explained.
Reintegration Support
The Lagos Head of Office noted that upon arrival, returnees are immediately processed through an integrated support system designed to help them reintegrate into society. “We provide support immediately upon arrival. This includes health screening, psychosocial first aid, and assistance with immediate needs. After their return, we also support them with reintegration assistance. That means helping them reintegrate into their communities so they can recover and rebuild their lives,” he said.
Support may include livelihood assistance, business support, educational aid, and other interventions based on individual needs.
Increase in Irregular Migration Casualties
Statistical data from the agency revealed a sharp increase in irregular migration casualties, with 7,625 Nigerians voluntarily evacuated from North Africa between January and June 2026 alone.
Promoting Safe Migration
Responding to questions about repeated migration attempts by some returnees, Ibrahim stressed that while migration is a fundamental human right, the AVRR programme aims to ensure future migration occurs through safe and legal channels. “Voluntary return means that you are a migrant in another country, you find yourself stranded, and you choose to return to your country of origin. Migration is a choice. What we are trying to promote is that such choices are made correctly. We promote safe migration by providing access to the right information so people can make informed decisions,” he said.
Scaled-Up Repatriation Operations
The IOM further disclosed that repatriation exercises have been scaled up to weekly operations across major entry points, including Kano and Lagos, alongside daily commercial arrivals of rescued Nigerians through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
