174 Nigerians stranded in Libya return home
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday received another batch of 174 Nigerians who had been stranded in Libya.
The acting coordinator of the Lagos territorial office of the agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, told journalists that the Nigerians arrived at the cargo wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 3:45 p.m. aboard a Boeing 737-800 of Al Buraq Air with registration number 5A-DMG.
He said the returnees were brought back to the country by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) through a voluntary repatriation programme.
The acting coordinator said that the programme was meant for distressed Nigerians who had left the country to seek greener pastures in various European countries but could not afford to return when their journey became frustrating.
Mr Farinloye said the returnees comprised 75 male adults, 69 female adults, 12 male and five female children, 10 female infants and three male infants.
He said that 23 of the returnees had minor medical cases.
“This year alone, this flight was the 12th recorded in Lagos that brought returnees from Libya,” Mr Farinloye said.
He said that about 2,044 Nigerian returnees from Libya had been assisted back to the country through Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, in 2022.
“We admonished the returnees on the need to realise that there’s no country better than Nigeria.
”Here, you have all the freedom to achieve your potential; looking for greener pastures in foreign lands is no longer a reality; those countries are not better off when you consider the challenges you encounter there and here,” he said.
Mr Farinloye said the returnees were received by NEMA, Immigration Service, Refugee Commission, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Police.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Agriculture
Council trains Imo farmers in cashew production for export
“Cashew holds a huge foreign exchange potential for Nigeria.’’
NationWide
Commission proposes joint technical committee to end Kebbi, Niger boundary dispute
“There is equally the need for a physical fieldwork to trace the boundary in accordance with relevant documents.’’
Education
Foundation trains 50 Kano UTME candidates in computer-based test
Mr Abdulwahab said that the initiative was aimed at equipping the participants with the necessary computer skills.
NationWide
Ministry partners Cisco, others to boost digital economy
The minister noted the increased attention on AI across the world and growth in investments in technology in Nigeria.
Politics
171,922 APC members to choose Ondo governorship candidate among Aiyedatiwa, Oke, Ibrahim, 13 others today
Mr Omo-Agege assured of the committee’s resolve to strictly follow the party’s guidelines and constitution.
Showbiz
Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, breaks GWR’s longest chess marathon
A charity group on Thursday said Mr Onakoya experienced intense vomiting and stomach pain.