No fewer than 6,500 Nigerians stranded abroad have been repatriated from at least seven different countries over the past two years,
The nations involved in these large-scale evacuations include Libya, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Niger Republic, and Chad.
The PUNCH reported that this extensive repatriation effort was detailed through data compiled by the International Organisation for Migration the National Emergency Management Agency and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.
These agencies worked collaboratively to bring back Nigerians caught in crisis zones, facing harsh economic conditions, or lacking legal residency.
In 2023 alone, no fewer than 5,219 Nigerians were brought back home from Sudan, Libya, Niger Republic, and Saudi Arabia.
Specifically, checks showed that 2,849 of these evacuees came from Sudan, where escalating conflict had endangered lives, 1,916 were from Libya, 441 from the Niger Republic, and 13 from Saudi Arabia.
The repatriations continued into 2024, with no fewer than 1,621 Nigerians returning from Libya, Sudan, the UAE, Chad, and Ghana.
Detailed findings highlighted that 29 Nigerians were repatriated from Sudan, 1,130 from Libya, 190 from the UAE, 122 from Ghana, and 150 from Chad.
The underlying driver of this migration surge is commonly referred to as the “Japa syndrome”—a phenomenon where Nigerians, both skilled professionals and unskilled workers, seek opportunities in more developed nations.
The allure of stability, improved living conditions, and career advancement abroad continues to propel many to take the risk of migration, despite the challenges involved.
