The growing concern about Nigerians trapped in foreign countries has once again resurfaced following disturbing revelations. Reports indicate that more than 7,000 Nigerians are currently stranded in Libya, a situation that underscores the harsh realities of Nigeria’s socio-economic and security challenges.

The Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this during the official launch of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Strategic Plan for Nigeria 2025–2027, held in Abuja.

She expressed grave worry over the continuing trend of irregular migration through unsafe desert routes, lamenting that Nigerians were still embarking on life-threatening journeys in search of better opportunities. According to her:

“As we speak, 7,000 Nigerians are stranded in Libya. By 2025, people will still travel through the desert to die.”

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IOM’s Position on the Migration Crisis

During the same event, the IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Sharon Dimanche, highlighted that the new strategy was designed not as an external imposition but as a homegrown Nigerian plan, developed with inclusive consultations and national priorities.

She stressed that government institutions and stakeholders must collectively own and implement the strategy to ensure accountability and measurable progress:

“We are not just launching the strategy to leave it there. I’m counting on each and every one of you to implement that strategy together, so that when we sit down three or five years from now, we can hold each other accountable.”

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Human Trafficking Victims Repatriated

In a related incident on May 10, 2025, 78 Nigerian victims of human trafficking were repatriated from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to Lagos. The rescue mission was coordinated by the Federal Government in partnership with the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the IOM, and Air Peace Airlines.

This operation, along with the Libya crisis, has fueled widespread debate on why thousands of Nigerians continue to risk their lives migrating illegally through unsafe routes.

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Economic Hardship and Insecurity Fueling Migration

The primary drivers behind this mass migration remain economic hardship and insecurity. Many Nigerians are fleeing poverty, high unemployment, and skyrocketing inflation that has worsened the cost of basic necessities such as food. Hunger and hopelessness have created a wave of frustration, pushing people toward desperate measures.

In addition to hunger, Nigerians are also plagued by security threats from Boko Haram insurgents, Fulani herdsmen, kidnappers, and armed bandits. Kidnapping for ransom has become an everyday reality, and those unable to pay ransoms are often killed or subjected to ritual killings.

The disclosure of 7,000 Nigerians stranded in Libya only represents a fraction of the larger picture. Reports suggest that many Nigerians are also stranded in other African nations, trapped by traffickers or left helpless in transit while attempting to cross into Europe.

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Why Many Nigerians Still Risk Libya

Stranded Nigerians interviewed in Libya revealed that they left the country due to worsening hardship at home. For some, Libya was only a transit point to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, but they became stuck in the process.

Former lawmaker Yusuf Shehu told LMSINT MEDIA that not all migration is purely about hunger, but also about insecurity. He noted that for many, even crisis-torn Libya appears more stable than Nigeria, especially as Libya’s currency holds stronger value than the Naira.

Similarly, Mallam Ibrahim Sabiu explained that the stranded Nigerians sought survival. They were not simply chasing better conditions but running from hunger, insecurity, and joblessness at home. Unfortunately, many of them discovered upon arrival that the situation in Libya was not what traffickers had promised.

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Expert Reactions and Warnings

Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), emphasized that Nigeria’s situation is reflected in the growing number of citizens displaced across African countries. He explained that insecurity and a broken economy have pushed people into forced migration.

For businessman Samson Odega, the Libya situation is an embarrassment. He urged the Nigerian government to act swiftly, warning that the crisis could worsen if left unchecked:

“A stitch in time saves nine. The government should do everything possible to avoid the looming danger.”

Migration expert and Patriotic Citizens Initiative (PCI) founder, Osita Osemene, believes the solution lies in fixing Nigeria’s economy and securing lives. He stressed that Nigeria’s abundant resources should be harnessed to stop unnecessary migration, adding that many migrants had been deceived by traffickers into believing false promises abroad.

According to Osemene, if Nigeria’s economy flourishes and insecurity is tackled, citizens would no longer feel compelled to flee the country in search of survival.