IOM, EU AND FG EVACUATE 180 STRANDED NIGERIANS FROM LIBYA UNDER AVRR PROGRAMME, AS RETURNEES HIT 65,700 SINCE 2017

by HEDNEWS on June 3, 2026

The International Organisation for Migration IOM, in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the European Union EU, has evacuated 180 stranded Nigerian migrants from Libya under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration AVRR programme, bringing the total number of returnees to 65,700 since 2017. The latest group of returnees arrived in Lagos from Benghazi, Libya, aboard a chartered flight, where they were received by officials of IOM and Nigerian migration authorities before undergoing initial medical screening, counselling, and documentation processing. According to the IOM, the operation was part of ongoing humanitarian efforts supported by the European Union to assist vulnerable migrants stranded along irregular migration routes across North Africa, particularly Libya, which remains one of the most dangerous transit corridors for migrants attempting to reach Europe. The evacuated group included men, women, and children, with several minors among them. Officials confirmed that the returnees comprised adults as well as children and infants, including two unaccompanied minors who returned without their parents or guardians. Migration officials noted that many of the returnees had been held in difficult conditions in detention centres or stranded in urban areas in Libya before opting for voluntary return to Nigeria. Upon arrival, returnees were enrolled in the AVRR reintegration framework, which provides immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term reintegration support.

Medical and psychosocial support
Skills acquisition and vocational training
Small business start-up assistance
Community reintegration programmes

The IOM said the goal is to help returnees rebuild their lives sustainably and discourage irregular migration by promoting safer alternatives. With the latest evacuation, the total number of Nigerians assisted under the programme since 2017 has risen to 65,700, reflecting ongoing large-scale return operations coordinated by the IOM with support from the EU and Nigerian authorities. Officials say thousands more Nigerians continue to be assisted annually as migration pressures persist due to economic hardship, conflict, and irregular travel routes through North Africa. Migration officials reiterated that while returning home is voluntary, the broader objective of the programme is to encourage safe, legal, and informed migration pathways, reducing the risks associated with irregular journeys across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. They warned that despite repeated awareness campaigns, many migrants still embark on dangerous routes, often falling victim to exploitation, detention, or trafficking networks. The IOM reaffirmed its commitment to continuing coordinated evacuation flights from Libya and other transit countries, while strengthening reintegration support systems across Nigeria to reduce the drivers of irregular migration. Authorities say the sustained partnership between Nigeria, the EU, and international agencies remains crucial in addressing one of West Africa’s most persistent migration challenges.