No fewer than 13,635 stranded Nigerians have been repatriated from 10 countries within the last three years, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
Findings from data compiled through media reports and information obtained from the official platforms of the International Organisation for Migration, the National Emergency Management Agency and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission showed that the returnees were brought back from Libya, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Niger Republic, Algeria, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali.
The data indicated that 3,358 Nigerians were repatriated in 2025 from five countries.
The breakdown showed that 1,188 were returned from the Niger Republic, 1,773 from Libya, 140 from Sudan, 153 from Chad, and 104 from Algeria.
In 2024, a total of 4,261 Nigerians were evacuated from seven countries.
The figures showed that 29 were evacuated from Sudan, 1,088 from the Niger Republic, 1,821 from Libya, 190 from the United Arab Emirates, 122 from Ghana, 338 from Mali, 673 from Chad, and 263 from Côte d’Ivoire.
Similarly, 5,753 stranded Nigerians were brought back in 2023 from four countries, including 2,849 from Sudan, 1,916 from Libya, 975 from the Niger Republic, and 13 from Saudi Arabia.
Amid the trend, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2025 renewed its warning to Nigerians, particularly youths, to be wary of fraudulent job offers and migration schemes that lure victims abroad.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, urged citizens to verify overseas employment opportunities through appropriate official channels before making commitments.
Also, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, cautioned young Nigerians against irregular migration, stressing that while migration remains a normal part of human development, unsafe and unregulated movement across borders poses serious risks.
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Olawande said irregular migration, which occurs outside legal frameworks and regulatory procedures, threatens lives, undermines communities and could negatively affect national development.
