Nigerians Warned Against Risky Journeys Abroad

Nigerians should not gamble with their lives in pursuit of a better future abroad, warns Dimanche Sharon, the Chief of Mission in Nigeria for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

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Every statistic has a name. It has a face. And behind every face is an individual, a woman, a man, a child and a family. Irregular migration is, above all, a human story.

Sharon highlighted the severe human cost of irregular migration, emphasizing that behind every statistic is an individual with hopes and aspirations for decent work, education, and improved livelihoods. However, many who embark on dangerous journeys face exploitation, human trafficking, violence, detention, family separation, and even death. The reality often starkly contrasts with the dreams they held before leaving home.

Many migrants spend years saving or sell valuable possessions to finance their journeys, only to return with nothing but crippling debt. Families left behind suffer immense anxiety and uncertainty, often lacking information about their loved ones' whereabouts or safety. Sharon recounted instances where young men were lured by false promises of jobs, only to be trapped in criminal compounds and later detained for months while authorities tried to identify victims.

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Many face human trafficking, violence, detention, family separation and, in some cases, death. The human cost is not only measured by lives lost; it is also measured by dreams that have been interrupted and opportunities that have disappeared.

The IOM's core belief, Sharon stated, is that no one should risk their life to improve it. The organization advocates for migration to be a pathway to a better future, not a dangerous gamble. They stress the importance of pursuing opportunities abroad through safe, orderly, and regular migration channels.

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At IOM, we believe that nobody should have to risk their life in order to improve their life.