The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has disclosed that around 7,000 Nigerian migrants are currently stranded in Libya.
She made the revelation on Tuesday night during the launch of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Strategic Plan for Nigeria (2025–2027) in Abuja.
“As we speak, 7,000 Nigerians are stranded in Libya. In 2025, people still travel through the desert to die,” Dabiri-Erewa said, highlighting the ongoing dangers of irregular migration along hazardous routes.
The event also featured remarks from IOM’s Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Sharon Dimanche, who emphasized that the strategic plan is a collaborative, nationally driven initiative.
“This is not just an IOM strategy for Nigeria, it is Nigeria’s strategy supported by IOM, developed through inclusive consultations and shaped by national priorities,” Dimanche said.
She called on government agencies and stakeholders to take ownership of the plan and ensure its effective implementation.
“We are not just launching the strategy to leave it there. I’m counting on each and every one of you to implement it together so that in three or five years, we can hold each other accountable. We want to see real change, and I’m relying on your support to make that difference,” she added.
