The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has facilitated the voluntary return of 180 Nigerian migrants from Libya, including women and children, as part of ongoing efforts to assist stranded migrants seeking to return home safely.
The returnees arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard a chartered Buraq Air flight on Tuesday evening. The group consisted largely of women and children who had been living in difficult conditions in Libya before opting to return to Nigeria through the IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme.
Speaking at the airport, IOM Lagos Sub-Office Head Ali Ali Ibrahim said many of the migrants had been held in detention centres in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi before their return.
“We are here to welcome home Nigerian migrants who have endured challenging journeys and difficult circumstances along migration routes,” Ibrahim said.
He noted that many of the returnees had left Nigeria in search of better economic opportunities but instead encountered hardship, uncertainty, and, in some cases, exploitation during their migration journeys.
According to IOM figures, the returnees included 108 adult women and 45 adult men, bringing the total number of adults to 153. The flight also carried 17 children and 12 infants. Two of the returnees were unaccompanied minors who returned without parents or legal guardians.
Upon arrival in Lagos, the migrants received reception assistance, medical screening, and counselling services. IOM officials said eligible returnees would also be able to access reintegration support aimed at helping them rebuild their lives after returning home.
The assistance package includes vocational training, support for small business projects, and psychosocial services designed to help returnees reintegrate into their communities and achieve economic stability.
Ibrahim said the programme is implemented in cooperation with the Nigerian government and with financial support from the European Union. He described the initiative as an important tool for providing migrants with safe alternatives after experiencing difficulties abroad.
For nearly a decade, IOM has supported the return of more than 65,700 Nigerian migrants from various transit and destination countries, including Libya. During the same period, more than 52,200 returnees have received reintegration assistance to help them establish sustainable livelihoods upon their return.
Libya remains one of the main transit hubs for African migrants seeking to reach Europe through the Mediterranean. However, many migrants face significant risks, including detention, exploitation, and dangerous travel conditions, prompting thousands to seek voluntary return assistance each year.
IOM continues to work with governments and international partners to provide humanitarian support, voluntary return opportunities, and long-term reintegration programmes for vulnerable migrants across the region.
