The evacuation was carried out under the IOM's voluntary repatriation exercise, which provides an opportunity for those who want to return to Nigeria to do so safely and reunite with their families. According to Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge D’affiares en titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, the evacuees who included 71 females, 54 males, 14 children, and 13 infants are expected to arrive at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos at 8:00 p.m.
In 2022, the IOM, Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Nigerian Mission in Libya, successfully repatriated almost 4,000 Nigerians who were irregular migrants in the country. Mr Musa said that the March 28 voluntary evacuation was the first of the year with several other exercises to follow in the coming days and weeks.
However, the problem of Nigerians stranded in Libya is not new, and the Nigerian government has been criticised for not doing enough to address the issue. In an interview with Channels Television, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said that the agency has been working with the government to address the issue of human trafficking and irregular migration from Nigeria.
"We have been working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Mission in Libya, and other agencies to provide support for Nigerians who are stranded in Libya," Sulaiman-Ibrahim said. "We are also working on prevention by creating awareness among Nigerians about the dangers of irregular migration."
According to Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the issue of Nigerians stranded in Libya is complex and requires a multi-faceted approach that includes addressing the root causes of irregular migration, providing support for Nigerians who are already stranded in Libya, and holding traffickers and other criminals accountable.
The IOM also plays a critical role in addressing the issue of irregular migration and human trafficking. In an interview with the Africa Report, Franz Celestin, Chief of Mission for the IOM in Nigeria, said that the organisation is working with the Nigerian government to provide support for Nigerians who are stranded in Libya and other countries.
"We provide humanitarian assistance, including medical care, food, and shelter, to those who are stranded," Celestin said. "We also work on voluntary return and reintegration programs to help those who want to return to their home countries."
The Nigerian government's efforts to evacuate stranded Nigerians from Libya are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of irregular migration and human trafficking. This includes creating more economic opportunities for Nigerians at home, providing education and awareness programs about the dangers of irregular migration, and holding traffickers and other criminals accountable. The collaboration between the Nigerian government and organisations like the IOM and NAPTIP is a positive sign that progress is being made, but sustained effort and commitment are needed to fully address this complex issue.