More than 956 Nigerians were rescued and repatriated from Libya in the first quarter of 2025, according to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
Dabiri-Erewa credited the successful evacuation to the collaboration between the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nigeria and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI).
A statement from Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NIDCOM, detailed the breakdown of the returnees: 683 females, 132 males, 87 children, and 54 infants.
The repatriation occurred in six phases between January and March 2025. Specifically, 152 Nigerians returned on January 28, while 145, 180, and 159 were evacuated on February 11, 19, and 25, respectively.
Additional flights brought back 144 and 176 returnees on March 4 and 18.
Over the past few years, more than 15,000 stranded Nigerians have been repatriated with the assistance of the federal government and IOM.
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated the dangers of irregular migration, particularly through Libya, a country grappling with political instability and security challenges.
She urged Nigerians to avoid perilous migration routes and instead pursue legal and structured means of traveling abroad.
She also emphasized that despite continuous rescue efforts, some returnees attempt to make the journey again through even more dangerous routes.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of Nigerians both at home and abroad, she called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, NGOs, the media, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about the risks of irregular migration.
