Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has received another batch of 180 stranded Nigerian migrants from Libya under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme. The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, aboard a chartered Buraq Airline flight at about 8:15 p.m. The migrants, who were mostly women and children, were received by officials of the IOM and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the Pilgrims and Cargo Terminal.
According to the Head of IOM’s Lagos Sub-Office, Mr. Ali Ali Ibrahim, the majority of the returnees came from detention camps in Benghazi, Libya, where they had been held under difficult conditions after embarking on irregular migration journeys in search of better opportunities. “We are here tonight to welcome home 180 Nigerian migrants from Libya after difficult journeys along migration routes,” Ibrahim told journalists at the airport. “Many left in search of opportunity, but instead faced hardship, uncertainty and for some, exploitation. Today, there is relief, but return is only the first step.”
The breakdown of the returnees provided by the IOM showed that the group comprised 108 adult females and 45 adult males, bringing the total number of adults to 153. The flight also conveyed 17 children — seven females and ten males — as well as 12 infants, including eight females and four males. In total, there were 123 females and 59 males on board, making a total of 182 returnees on the flight. Two of the children were unaccompanied minors who returned without their parents or guardians. “You know it’s a dangerous migration route, so many things would have happened,” Ibrahim said when asked about the unaccompanied children.
Upon arrival, the returnees received immediate reception support, including health screening, medical evaluation, counselling services, and first aid. Those eligible will also benefit from reintegration assistance under the AVRR programme, which is funded largely by the European Union. The support package includes skills training, small business start-up support, educational interventions, and psychosocial care designed to help returnees rebuild their lives and reintegrate into their communities. “After their return, we support them with assistance to reintegrate into the community and rebuild their lives. The support could mean many things including livelihood support, business assistance, assistance with education, and also other needs as they arise,” Ibrahim explained.
The IOM disclosed that the AVRR programme, which began in 2017, has facilitated the return of approximately 65,700 Nigerians from various transit countries over the past nine years. More than 52,200 of those returnees have received reintegration support. In 2026 alone, about 7,625 Nigerians have been voluntarily evacuated from North African countries under the programme. The agency noted that repatriation flights from Libya are now being scaled up to a weekly schedule through major entry points in Lagos and Kano, while additional returnees continue to arrive through commercial flights at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The IOM official stressed that voluntary return remains an option for migrants who find themselves in vulnerable situations abroad, and that migration itself is not illegal, but should be undertaken through safe and regular channels. “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,” he said.
The latest evacuation comes just weeks after the Nigeria Immigration Service issued a public warning to citizens against leaving the country without valid travel documents, stressing that all international travel must be carried out with a valid passport and appropriate visas. The NIS cautioned that any attempt to bypass official procedures or use unauthorised border routes constitutes a violation of Nigerian law and exposes individuals to serious risks, including detention, exploitation, and human trafficking.
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare of its citizens abroad and has urged Nigerians to explore legal migration pathways and avoid the dangers of irregular migration. The IOM, for its part, has pledged to continue working closely with the Nigerian government and international partners to assist vulnerable migrants and promote safer migration pathways. As Ibrahim put it: “With the right support and strong partnership, return can become a real opportunity to recover, rebuild and move forward with dignity.”
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