NCFRMI warns Nigerians against irregular migration through Sahara
Nigerian Commission Warns Against Irregular Migration Through Sahara Desert
KANO, Nigeria — The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has issued a caution to Nigerians regarding the dangers of traveling through the Sahara Desert without proper documentation. The commission emphasizes that irregular migration poses significant risks to individuals.
Luba Liman, the commission’s Field Coordinator for Kano and Jigawa, conveyed this warning during a quarterly review meeting of the Technical Working Group of the Adolescent Health and Information Project (AHIP) ROOTS Programme in Kano on Thursday.
Liman clarified that the commission does not oppose migration but advocates for safe and legal channels. “We are not discouraging them from migration. We are trying to curb irregular migration, whereby they travel through the Sahara without documents,” she stated.
She urged potential migrants to secure the necessary documentation and gather relevant information prior to embarking on international journeys. Liman highlighted that many individuals pursuing irregular routes encounter substantial hardships and often return to Nigeria.
Since January 2026, approximately 5,780 returnees have arrived via Kano routes, according to Liman. She noted that not all returnees are originally from Kano State, with arrivals occurring through both land and air routes. Of this total, 2,067 returnees traveled by road, primarily from Niger and Agadez.
Liman encouraged Nigerians to learn from the experiences of returnees to make better-informed travel decisions. “Some of them listen to the advice because they have already seen for themselves that Nigeria is not the only country facing this problem,” she said.
In a related statement, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) warned that many young Nigerians fall prey to human trafficking through irregular migration, exposing them to forced labor, exploitation, and various forms of abuse.
Umar Muhammad, the agency’s Public Enlightenment and Sensitization Officer, explained that traffickers often lure young people with deceptive promises, leaving them unaware of their recruitment for exploitative purposes. “They don’t know that traffickers are deceiving them. At the end of the day, they become victims of human trafficking,” he said.
From January 2023 to the present, NAPTIP has reported handling 139 trafficking-related cases, resulting in nine convictions. Muhammad noted that offenders have received prison sentences of no less than six years for crimes including child abuse, labor exploitation, and human trafficking. He urged young people to seek accurate information prior to traveling abroad.
