The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has disclosed that 956 Nigerians were evacuated from Libya in the first quarter of 2025.
The operation was carried out with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nigeria and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI).
This was contained in a press statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM, and shared via the Commission’s official X handle.
According to the statement, the breakdown of evacuees includes 683 females, 132 males, 87 children, and 54 infants.
The repatriation took place in six separate operations between January and March 2025, with return flights scheduled as follows: 152 Nigerians on January 28, 145 on February 11, 180 on February 19, 159 on February 25, 144 on March 4, and 176 on March 18.
The statement further noted that over the past few years, more than 15,000 stranded Nigerians have been successfully brought home through joint efforts by the Federal Government and IOM.
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated NiDCOM’s persistent warning against the use of Libya as a migration route, emphasizing the country’s instability and the severe dangers associated with irregular migration.
“Due to the delicate political situation in Libya, we consistently caution Nigerians against using it as a pathway to Europe, not just Libya, but other irregular routes as well,” she stated.
She urged Nigerians to embrace legal and regular migration channels, expressing concern that some returnees still attempt the journey again through even more hazardous routes.
The NiDCOM Chairman reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and well-being of Nigerians, both at home and abroad. She called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organizations, the media, and other stakeholders to intensify awareness campaigns on the risks of irregular migration.
