Ambassador Mohammed made these remarks in Tripoli, Libya, on Tuesday during the repatriation of 122 stranded Nigerians. He emphasized that while legal migration is permissible, Nigerians should carefully consider the risks associated with attempting perilous journeys across the desert without the necessary documentation.
In his address, Ambassador Mohammed, who recently assumed his position following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, expressed gratitude to the Libyan authorities and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for their roles in facilitating the release and repatriation of detained Nigerian migrants.
The 122 evacuees included 52 men, 39 women (seven of whom were victims of human trafficking), 21 children, and 10 infants. They were airlifted from Mitiga International Airport at about 1:30 PM local time and expected to arrive at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos by 5:00 PM Nigerian time. Upon arrival, they would be handed over to appropriate government agencies to be reunited with their families.
This repatriation, the ninth carried out by the Nigerian Mission in Libya this year, was conducted in collaboration with the IOM as part of its Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) program. This effort aligns with the Tinubu Administration’s 4-D foreign policy, directed by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.
In 2023, the IOM assisted 2,041 stranded Nigerian migrants in returning home. So far this year, approximately 1,350 Nigerians have been safely repatriated.
