By Nkechi Eze
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 181 Nigerian returnees evacuated from Benghazi, Libya, as part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to assist stranded citizens abroad.
The returnees arrived in Lagos on March 10, 2026, at about 9:50 p.m. through the Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, aboard an Al Buraq Airlines flight.
Their return was facilitated under the Assisted Voluntary Return programme coordinated by the International Organization for Migration in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Officials disclosed that the reception exercise was coordinated by NEMA’s Lagos Operations Office in partnership with the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) alongside other relevant stakeholders involved in migration management and humanitarian response.
According to the official breakdown released by NEMA, the 181 returnees comprised 164 adults, including 75 males and 90 females, among whom were two female medical cases that required special attention.
The group also included seven children made up of three males and four females, as well as ten infants consisting of three males and six females.
Upon arrival at the airport, officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) conducted biometric registration and documentation of the returnees as part of efforts to maintain accurate records and facilitate their smooth reintegration into society.
The returnees were also provided with immediate humanitarian assistance, including food and potable water, medical care and ambulance services where necessary, luggage handling support, and counselling services to help them cope with the challenges associated with their return.
Officials involved in the operation noted that the exercise forms part of ongoing humanitarian interventions aimed at ensuring that Nigerians stranded abroad are assisted to return home safely and with dignity.
They added that the programme reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the welfare of its citizens while strengthening coordinated efforts with international partners to manage migration challenges.
Through the Assisted Voluntary Return initiative, many Nigerians who found themselves in difficult circumstances abroad have continued to receive support to return home and rebuild their lives under safer and more structured conditions.
