A wave of emotions swept through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday, March 4, as 144 stranded Nigerians returned home from Libya. Some wept as they stepped onto Nigerian soil, clutching their few belongings, while others sighed in relief after months of hardship in the North African country.
The returnees—mostly women and children—arrived aboard a chartered Boeing aircraft at exactly 4:45 p.m. Their homecoming was facilitated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other key stakeholders. Officials swiftly moved to process them, ensuring they underwent the necessary procedures for reintegration into society.
Among the returnees were 100 females, 8 males, 26 children, and 10 infants—individuals who had left Nigeria in search of a better future, only to find themselves trapped in a nightmare. Libya, once perceived as a gateway to Europe, has become a perilous trap for migrants. Many endure forced labor, sexual exploitation, kidnappings, and inhumane detentions, with little hope of escape.
For years, NEMA and its partners have worked tirelessly to bring stranded Nigerians home. At the airport, officials from the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Department of State Services (DSS), Port Health Services, and the Nigeria Police Force were on ground to facilitate their return. The returnees underwent biometric registration, medical screening, and psychological counseling before being transported to the Igando IDPs Resettlement Center for reintegration programs.
Yet, for many, homecoming is bittersweet. Aisha, 27, left Nigeria two years ago with dreams of a better life. Instead, she found herself trapped in Libya, forced to work under exploitative conditions just to survive. Holding her two-year-old son close, she said, “I don’t know where to start. I sold everything to travel. Now, I am back with nothing.”
To help returnees like Aisha, the IOM, in partnership with NEMA and other agencies, provides reintegration support, including vocational training, business grants, and psychosocial counseling. These programs are essential in helping them rebuild their lives and find new opportunities at home.
This latest evacuation is part of an ongoing effort to rescue Nigerians from Libya’s brutal realities. Over the years, thousands have been repatriated, yet the cycle of irregular migration persists. Despite continuous awareness campaigns, human traffickers still lure young Nigerians with false promises of a better life abroad.
Experts argue that while evacuation efforts are commendable, the real solution lies in addressing the root causes of migration—unemployment, poverty, and lack of opportunities. Without viable alternatives at home, many will continue to take desperate risks.
As the returnees settled into the temporary resettlement center, a mix of relief and uncertainty filled the air. Some saw their return not as a failure, but as a second chance. “I just want to find a way to take care of my son,” Aisha said. “I don’t regret coming back. At least, I am alive.”
For NEMA and its partners, the mission is clear: to help returnees rebuild their lives. But for Nigeria as a whole, the bigger challenge remains—creating a future where its youth no longer feel compelled to risk everything for an uncertain journey abroad.