The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday said it received 281 distressed Nigerians from Libya within 24 hours.The returnees, who were assisted back home by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), were brought in two batches of 151 and 130 respectively.
While the 151 persons batched arrived at the cargo section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Tuesday night aboard an Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG; the others were brought on Wednesday evening.
According to NEMA’s Lagos Office Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, the returnees were received by the agency’s Director General, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed.
He said those returned Tuesday night comprised 71 adult females, two of which had medical issues; 10 female children and seven girl infants; 54 adult males,four boys and five infant boys.
“They arrived at the airport aboard Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG at about 7:30 pm. The other batch landed at the airport aboard Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG at about 16 hours on Wednesday.
“A total of 69 females were brought back including 62 adults and seven children, while 61 males which comprised 58 adults, a child, and two infants were in this batch. In all, 281 persons were returned within 24 hours from Libya.”
Quoting the DG who was represented by a Chief Executive Officer of NEMA, Mrs. Adenike OgunKunle, Farinloye said the returnees were urged to turn a new leaf and stop searching for greener pastures where such no longer existed.
He assured them of the government’s commitment to supporting their reintegration and quick recoveries. “The returnees left the country with a view of seeking greener pastures in the distressed Northern African country of Libya or trying to cross over to Europe.
“The conditions they met in Libya became unbearable while those that tried to cross over to Europe could not succeed and became stranded in Libya.
”The International Organisation for Migration and the Nigerian Embassy in Libya rallied round to the aid of all those who expressed willingness to return to Nigeria,” he said.
