More than 200 Nigerians who had been stranded in Libya have safely returned to the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The return was part of a joint effort by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other government bodies working with international partners.
They arrived on Monday evening aboard a chartered Al Buraq aircraft, which landed at the airport’s cargo terminal around 7:00 p.m.
The group consisted of 50 men, 96 women, 29 children, and 28 babies.
The return was organised under the voluntary humanitarian repatriation programme of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Nigerian authorities involved included NEMA, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Nigeria Immigration Service, Department of State Services (DSS), Port Health Services, and the Nigeria Police Force.
Two people among the returnees needed urgent medical help and were taken straight to New Ikeja Hospital for treatment.
Others were profiled and had their biometrics recorded before being moved to the Igando IDPs Resettlement Centre in Lagos, where they will take part in reintegration programmes designed to help them start over.
This operation is part of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to assist citizens who face tough situations abroad and ensure they are brought back to safety.
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