In the past two years, more than 6,500 stranded Nigerians have been repatriated from at least seven countries, according to data reviewed by SUNDAY PUNCH.
These countries include Libya, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ghana, Niger Republic, and Chad.
The figures, sourced from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), highlight the large-scale effort to bring back citizens in difficult situations abroad.
In 2023 alone, at least 5,219 Nigerians were returned from various countries. Of these, 2,849 were evacuated from conflict-ridden Sudan, 1,916 from Libya, 441 from Niger Republic, and 13 from Saudi Arabia.
In 2024, another wave of evacuations brought 1,621 Nigerians home. These included 29 individuals from Sudan, 1,130 from Libya, 190 from the UAE, 122 from Ghana, and 150 from Chad.
This pattern of migration, driven by a desire for improved economic prospects abroad, is commonly known as the “Japa syndrome.” The term describes the movement of both skilled and unskilled Nigerians to Europe and other developed regions in search of better opportunities.
