By Christopher Oji
A total of 151 Nigerians have been repatriated from Benqahi, Libya.
The distressed Nigerians were received at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, by the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA). The returnees were received by the Director General of the agency, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, at the airport.
Spokesman of NEMA, South West Zone, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said: “The statistics of the returnees, after profiling, indicates that 71 adult females, including two with medical issues, 10 female children, and seven female infants, were brought back through the Assisted Voluntary Repatriation by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
“Also, the statistics shows that 54 adult males, four male children, and five male infants were among the repatriated distressed Nigerians.They arrived at the airport aboard Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG at about 7.30pm.
The director general was represented by Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Adenike OgunKunle, who admonished the returnees to turn a new leaf by taking advantage of the second chance to make a meaningful life upon their safe arrival in the country.
OgunKunle enjoined youths to tread softly on the urge to rush out for greener pastures where it no longer exists. She assured the returnees of the continuous assistance by the Federal Government and other international partners in helping them with the reintegration programme, to enable them recover fast.
Other agencies that participated in the exercise are: The Nigeria Immigration Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Refugee Commission and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).