At least 13,635 Nigerians stranded abroad have been repatriated from 10 countries over the past three years, including Libya, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Ghana, Niger, Algeria, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali, according to data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The highest numbers of returnees were from Libya, Sudan, and Niger. Annual figures show that 5,753 Nigerians were repatriated in 2023, 4,261 in 2024, and 3,358 in 2025.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Youth Development warned Nigerians—particularly youths—to be cautious of fraudulent overseas job offers and to avoid irregular migration. Officials stressed that migrating outside legal channels poses significant risks to personal safety and undermines national development.