Nigerian gov’t evacuates 151 citizens stranded in Libya
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has evacuated 151 stranded Nigerians from Benghazi, Libya.
Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge D’affiares en titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Musa, the evacuees who included 71 females, 54 males, 14 children, and 13 infants are expected to arrive at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos at 8 p.m.
Musa said that in 2022, the IOM, Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Nigerian Mission in Libya, successfully repatriated almost 4,000 Nigerians who were irregular migrants in the country.
He said the government has resumed its voluntary evacuation in Libya.
Musa said the March 28 voluntary evacuation was the first of the year with several other exercises to follow in the coming days and weeks.
“There are several Nigerians living illegally in this country who have been subjected to very inhumane treatment, and the Federal Government, through the Mission here, has continued to intervene with local authorities to stop this.
“The voluntary repatriation offers an opportunity for those who want to return to Nigeria to do so safely and reunite with their families.
“There are always officials of relevant government agencies on the ground to receive them and ensure their resettlement and reintegration back into society,” Musa said.
Musa said that more Nigerians would be evacuated from Tripoli on Wednesday, with another exercise to be carried out on April 3 from Misrata, Libya.
