Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the agency’s acting Coordinator of the Lagos Territorial Office, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
Farinloye, who represented the Director General, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, said the Nigerians arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport’s Cargo Wing around 4.22pm.
He noted that the returnees were brought back to the country by the International Organization for Migration through a voluntary repatriation programme aboard a Boeing 700-787 Al Buraq Air with registration number 5A-DMG.
Farinloye said the programme was meant for the distressed Nigerians who had left the country to seek greener pastures in various European countries but could not afford to return when their journey became frustrating.
He said the returnees brought back comprise 46 male adults, 62 female adults, two male and six female children, as well as four female and six male infants.
The acting coordinator urged Nigerians to be wary of close associates, family friends or neighbourhood elders who deceive with sweet talks of a better life in foreign countries.
Farinloye said many were now being deceived with promises of assistance to destinations such as Iraq, Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Egypt, but end up in connection houses in Libya.
He enjoined the returnees to turn a new leaf by looking for ample opportunities that abound in the country, which are enough for everyone to achieve their desired goals.
“We admonish the returnees on the need to realise that there’s no country better than Nigeria.
“There are ample opportunities for all of us to thrive and live happily in virtuous and God-fearing manners in Nigeria without unnecessarily exposing ourselves to undeserved dangers in foreign lands,” he said.
Farinloye encouraged the returnees to be positive ambassadors for advocacy and sensitization against irregular migration, which exposes youths to a variety of abuses and, in extreme cases, death.
Officials from sister agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Refugee Commission, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Police were also present to welcome the returnees.
