The Federal Government has evacuated no fewer than 138 Nigerian irregular migrants stranded in Libya.
A statement by Amb Kabiru Musa, Chargé D’Affaires En Titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya on Tuesday in Abuja, said the Nigerian irregular migrants are expected to be back to the country on Tuesday.
Musa disclosed that the evacuees departed from the Mitiga International Airport aboard chartered flight UZ 189 on Tuesday afternoon.
According to him, they were expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos later on the same day.
“Today, we successfully repatriated another batch of 138 Nigerians who were stranded in different parts of Libya as irregular migrants.
“Among the evacuees today are 77 males, 56 females, 11 children, and four infants. They departed aboard chartered flight UZ 189 from the Tripoli International Airport and would arrive at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.
“It is the fourth evacuation exercise the Nigerian Mission in Libya has conducted this year as part of the 4D foreign policy of the present administration, and under the directives of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“So far, nearly one thousand stranded Nigerians have safely returned home in 2024,” Musa said.
He said that the evacuation exercises were carried out in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Libya under its consistent Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) programme.
“With the support of the Libyan authorities, we also successfully facilitated the release and repatriation of those in detention facilities for immigration-related offences.
“Surely, we will not rest on our oars while discharging our obligations and rendering necessary consular assistance to Nigerians in Libya,” he added.
He, therefore, cautioned young Nigerians to refrain from irregular migration, as many would not realise their fantasies and could lose their lives through the perilous journey of searching for greener pastures.
Musa said that the evacuees, upon arriving in Nigeria, would be received by the relevant government agencies, who would ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration into the society.