Authorities in Abuja have voiced grave concern over the fate of thousands of Nigerians trapped in Libya, with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirming that at least 7,000 citizens remain stranded.
Speaking at the launch of the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Nigeria Strategic Plan (2025–2027), NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the situation as “extremely alarming”, and lamented the continued flow of desperate migrants risking their lives through the desert.
She urged stronger collaboration among stakeholders to tackle the root causes of irregular migration while offering safer, structured opportunities for young Nigerians seeking livelihoods abroad.
The IOM, which co-hosted the event, reiterated that Libya remains the primary departure hub for migrants attempting perilous journeys to Europe, with 90% of those bound for Italy setting out from its shores. Since January alone, nearly 14,000 irregular migrants have been intercepted and forcibly returned to Libya, while 370 deaths and 300 missing persons have been recorded along the Central Mediterranean route. The agency called for an urgent scale-up of legal migration channels and increased funding to humanitarian organizations to mitigate the crisis and protect vulnerable lives.