No fewer than six of the returnees were brought back to Nigeria with medical conditions and were evacuated in ambulances provided by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
After their attempts to migrate to Europe through Libya and other irregular channels failed, 128 Nigerians on Wednesday evening voluntarily returned to Nigeria.
No fewer than six of the returnees were brought back to Nigeria with medical conditions and were evacuated in ambulances provided by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Earlier on Wednesday morning, 41 Nigerians were repatriated from six European countries for immigration related offenses.
The countries were Austria, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark.
The returnees from Libya were brought back to the country by a chartered Airbus 320 aircraft operated by the Libyan government-owned Afriqiyah Airways.
The aircraft transporting the Nigerians from Libya touched down at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at 5:35 p.m. local time.
The returnees were assisted back to Nigeria by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in conjunction with Nigerian federal government agencies.
Addressing reporters, Paul Ohemu, director of Search and Rescue at NEMA, said the agency, in collaboration with the IOM, was working to stem illegal and unsafe migration and return stranded Nigerians from Libya.
Mr. Ohemu advised Nigerians to stay home and contribute to the socioeconomic development of the country.
“There are a lot of things you can do in Nigeria here. You don't have to travel outside the country in search of greener pastures.
“My advice to parents is to keep tabs on their children and to ensure that they know where their children are going to and not to be deceived by phantom promises," he said.
Mr. Ohemu said NEMA and some state governments have put various schemes in place to help rehabilitate and reintegrate the returnees into Nigerian society.
The current repatriation from Libya is coming exactly two weeks after 180 Nigerians who were trapped in the war-torn North African country were returned home.
