TheCable

The federal government says it has repatriated over 3,000 Nigerian migrants from Libya between January and November 2022.

According to a statement on Tuesday, Kabiru Musa, Nigeria’s ambassador to Libya, said the Nigerians were evacuated under the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) voluntary humanitarian return programme.

Musa said another 159 stranded Nigerians are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed international airport on Tuesday.

He said the repatriation by the Nigerian mission in Tripoli is part of the government’s citizen diplomacy drive to protect Nigerians across the world.

“We have again successfully evacuated another batch of 159 stranded Nigerians from Libya. As you know, most of them here are irregular migrants without travel documents and consequently face difficult situations in the country,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“With the collaboration of IOM and Libyan authorities, we evacuated 159 stranded Nigerians, which included 65 men, 61 women, 19 children, and 14 infants.

“They departed Mitiga international airport, Tripoli, aboard chartered flight, UZ0189, by 2:30pm local time, and are expected to arrive Nigeria via the Murtala Muhammed airport, Lagos, by 6:40pm Nigerian time.

“The federal government and the minister of foreign affairs have taken this as a priority to ensure that none of its citizens will be left stranded in a foreign country. The exercise is worldwide, and not limited to Libya alone.

“Arrangements have also been made by the federal government for relevant agencies to receive them upon arrival, and ensure their reintegration into the society.”