FGN secures release of 161 detained Nigerians in Libya
Story from Christine TOBECHUKWU, Abuja
In a significant development, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has successfully secured the release of 161 Nigerians detained in Libya on various immigration-related charges.
Ambassador Kabiru Musa, the Charge D’Affaires En Titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, announced this through a statement provided to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Ambassador Musa revealed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other stakeholders, facilitated the return of these detained Nigerians, enabling them to come home and rebuild their lives.
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The remarkable reunion took place on Monday, August 21, 2023, when the returnees arrived in Lagos, Nigeria.
The reception process, efficiently coordinated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), unfolded at the Cargo terminal of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, located in Southwest Nigeria.
Mr. Alexander Oturu, the Southwest Zonal Coordinator representing the Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, elaborated on the logistics of this operation.
He shared that “the migrants will be transported to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s camp, where NCFRMI and IOM have established a tripartite agreement to provide temporary shelter for them before arranging onward transportation to their final destinations.”
He emphasized that while receiving reintegration support from IOM, “the returnees will also become part of various programs offered by the Commission and other government agencies.”
During their homecoming, the migrants, who were initially stranded in Libya while attempting to migrate to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, were graciously provided with welcome packs containing light refreshments, a change of clothes, and toiletries by the Commission.
Furthermore, the International Organization for Migration ensured they received an onward transportation allowance before accessing reintegration support.
The group of returnees consisted of 87 males, 68 females, 5 children, and an infant.
The profiling of these returnees was meticulously conducted by officers from the NCFRMI and the Nigerian Immigration Service.
Additionally, representatives from Port Health, FAAN, the Federal Ministry of Labour (Migrants Resource Centre), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Child Protection Network, and Web of Hearts Foundation were present to provide essential assistance.
