Nigeria Reaffirms Partnership with IOM to End Irregular Migration 

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen its cooperation with Nigeria to address the issue of irregular migration.

The Nigerian Charge’ d’Affaires Mission in Libya, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed committed in reaction to the repatriation of the Nigerian Migrants from Libya.

Speaking during the exercise undertaken by the Nigerian Embassy in Tripoli, Libyan Capital in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration and the Libyan authorities, the detainees from Libyan detention centres who earlier were arrested on various offences, including illegal entry, overstay and lack of proper documents, among others, were Ambassador Mohammed advised them to avoid irregular migrations through perilous journeys across the desert and the Mediterranean Sea to Europe looking for greener posture end up in exploitation.

“Life may appear rosy on the other side. But we must understand that not all that glitters is gold, as the saying goes. Do not listen to anyone making you promises of a job or even a better life elsewhere by offering to take you to Europe across the desert or the Mediterranean Sea. Count the costs of such an adventure before falling for it. Many lives have been wasted through such simple promises,” Ambassador Mohammed emphasised.

The exercise was conducted by the Embassy with the cooperation of the Libyan Government and the IOM in Libya as part of the organisation’s Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) programme which is aimed at providing a lifesaving, dignified and expedited return to willing migrants to their home nations, is the 10th carried out by the Nigerian Embassy in Libya this year.

The detainees repatriated, comprising thirty-eight men, one hundred and twenty women as well as four children and Two infants.

Dominica Nwabufo