The Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has cautioned Nigerians against engaging in dangerous and illegal migration.
She made the warning on Wednesday while speaking at an event organised by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Human Rights Institute to commemorate the 2025 International Human Rights Day in Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the risks of irregular migration, noting that many Nigerians have willingly placed themselves in life-threatening situations abroad over the past few years.
She said NIDCOM, in collaboration with the NBA Human Rights Institute, is actively assisting stranded citizens.
“In Iraq alone, there are over 7,000 stranded. They are looking for hope and hopelessness. Citizens often underestimate the dangers of illegal migration,” she lamented.
She urged Nigerians to focus on opportunities at home, stressing, “The grass is not greener on the other side. The grass is greener where you water it.” She cited a recent case of a young woman who returned from Libya after using funds meant for medical care to finance her illegal journey.
“She paid around N2.5 million to travel illegally to Libya despite lacking medical care at home; this money could have been used for better purposes. She came back with nothing. Such cases illustrate why advocacy and preventive measures are crucial,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa further revealed that migration routes are extremely dangerous, with one in 24 migrants risking death in Libya.
She added that NIDCOM and its partners are working to repatriate 10,500 children stranded abroad and called for collective action to create safe opportunities and reduce illegal migration.
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