Over a recent three-year period, Nigeria has repatriated a total of 13,635 of its citizens who were stranded abroad.
These individuals were brought home from ten different countries across Africa and the Middle East through coordinated efforts involving several national and international agencies.
The yearly breakdown shows a shifting pattern of repatriations, often linked to regional instability. In 2023, a total of 5,753 Nigerians were returned, with the majority coming from Sudan following the outbreak of conflict there.
Libya was also a significant source of returnees that year. In 2024, the number was 4,261 from seven countries, with Libya, Niger Republic, and Chad being the primary points of departure. The data for 2025 shows that 3,358 citizens have been repatriated so far from five nations, with flows from Libya and Niger Republic remaining persistent.
Confronted with these ongoing returns, the Nigerian government has renewed its public warnings about the dangers of irregular migration.
Officials have specifically cautioned young people against fraudulent overseas job offers, urging them to use only official channels for verification.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande emphasized that while legal migration is a normal part of global life, unauthorized journeys pose severe risks to individuals and to national development.
