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IOM Brings 182 Nigerians Home From Libya as Migrants Crises Deepens
IOM Brings 182 Nigerians Home From Libya as Migrants Crises Deepens
EU-funded operation lands at Lagos airport; agency discloses over 65,700 Nigerians rescued in nine years
By Oghenewoke Osaweren | Waterways News | Lagos
Another planeload of Nigerian citizens trapped in the turbulent migration corridors of North Africa has touched down on home soil, as the United Nations migration agency moves to contain the steady haemorrhage of lives along one of the world’s most dangerous irregular migration routes.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), working in close collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, facilitated the return of 182 Nigerian migrants from Libya under its Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme — an operation funded by the European Union. The returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard a charter flight from Benghazi.
Among those brought back were two unaccompanied children, underlining the extreme vulnerability of those who fall into Libya’s treacherous migration networks. The returnees were received jointly by IOM officials and representatives of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Speaking at the airport, the IOM said many of the migrants had endured difficult conditions in Libya, including detention, exploitation, abuse, and prolonged uncertainty while attempting to reach Europe and other destinations through irregular routes.
The latest evacuation is not an isolated incident but part of a crisis that has quietly consumed thousands of Nigerian lives over the past decade. IOM data shows that more than 65,500 stranded Nigerian migrants have been assisted in returning home from Libya and other transit countries over the past nine years, while over 30,000 returnees have benefited from psychological, social, and economic reintegration support programmes.
The scope of the humanitarian challenge was thrown into sharper relief in January this year, when IOM deployed emergency teams to Eastern Libya after Libyan authorities shut down an illegal detention site in Ajdabiya, freeing 195 migrants and recovering 21 bodies from a nearby burial ground. Investigations revealed that victims had been held in captivity and subjected to torture to extract ransom payments from their families.
In a separate incident in Kufra, security forces uncovered an underground detention facility dug three metres below ground, where 221 migrants and refugees — including women, children, and an infant of just one month — were found alive. At least ten people required urgent hospital care.
IOM’s Chief of Mission in Libya, Nicoletta Giordano, described the discoveries as deeply alarming. “These shocking cases highlight the severe risks faced by migrants who fall prey to criminal networks operating along migration routes,” she said, adding that the abuses uncovered in both Ajdabiya and Kufra underscore the urgent need to strengthen protection mechanisms, combat trafficking and smuggling, and push for accountability for perpetrators.
The IOM has reiterated its commitment to promoting safe and legal migration pathways while pressing for greater public awareness and responsible media coverage of migration issues.
The Federal Government has equally stepped up its warnings. In May 2026, Abuja cautioned Nigerians against travelling abroad without valid travel documents, while the Nigeria Immigration Service issued a public advisory stressing that irregular migration is illegal and exposes individuals to grave dangers, warning that all international travel must be conducted with valid passports, visas where required, and other approved immigration documents.
For Waterways News readers, the story carries a particular resonance. A significant proportion of Nigerians who attempt the Libya route are from coastal and riverine communities across the Niger Delta and South-South zones — many drawn by promises of maritime labour opportunities in Europe, only to find themselves ensnared by traffickers long before they ever see open sea.
IOM’s crisis response plan for Libya through 2026 includes expanded voluntary humanitarian return assistance, systematic monitoring of migrant deaths along both maritime and overland routes, and post-rescue humanitarian support with safe referrals to competent authorities.
As the agency continues to scale its operations, the message from both IOM and Abuja remains consistent: the journey through Libya is not a passage to opportunity — it is, for thousands of Nigerians each year, a passage to suffering.
Waterways News | Nigeria’s Maritime & Coastal News Authority.
Featured
UK Nautical Institute Certifies NSML’s Bonny Island Training Hub, Lifting Nigeria’s Maritime Standing
UK Nautical Institute Certifies NSML’s Bonny Island Training Hub, Lifting Nigeria’s Maritime Standing
NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited has secured a landmark international certification for its Maritime Centre of Excellence, signalling a new chapter for seafarer training in West Africa.
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News Correspondent
Nigeria’s maritime training landscape has taken a significant step forward with the certification of the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCoE) by the United Kingdom’s Nautical Institute — a move that industry stakeholders say will elevate the country’s standing in global shipping and offshore operations.
The MCoE, situated on Bonny Island in Rivers State, was designed from the outset as a comprehensive hub for maritime training, research, and professional development. The facility — equipped with advanced simulators and modern training infrastructure — serves seafarers and maritime professionals across Nigeria, West Africa, and beyond.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, NSML Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abdulkadir Ahmed, described the Nautical Institute certification as the first of its kind for the Centre and a strong endorsement of the quality and rigour of training delivered there.
“It confirms that the MCoE meets internationally accepted standards for competence development and operational excellence,” Ahmed said.
The Centre already holds accreditation from DNV under ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems, as well as the DNV-ST-0029 standard for Maritime Simulator and Training Centres. Building on that foundation, the MCoE is now licensed by the UK Nautical Institute to deliver Dynamic Positioning (DP) programmes — including induction, simulator, revalidation, and vessel maintenance training — making it one of a handful of institutes in West Africa to hold this level of DP accreditation.
Ahmed also confirmed that the Centre offers a suite of courses accredited by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), covering Gas Tanker Operations, Dynamic Positioning, Human Element Leadership and Management, Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), and High Voltage Training at both operational and management levels.
For Nigeria’s waterways and shipping sector, the implications are far-reaching. Ahmed noted that internationally recognised qualifications will broaden the mobility and employability of Nigerian seafarers, enabling them to compete for roles across global fleets and offshore operations. He also stressed the milestone’s importance for local capacity building — demonstrating that world-class maritime education can be delivered within Nigeria, reducing the sector’s dependence on foreign training institutions.
“Our ambition is clear — to build a maritime institution that Nigeria is proud of and one that is respected across the global maritime community,” Ahmed said.
Beyond workforce development, the NSML chief highlighted the wider economic dividend of a stronger maritime workforce, noting that enhanced professional competence feeds directly into trade, shipping, offshore operations, and Nigeria’s growing blue economy.
The MCoE’s UK Nautical Institute certification comes as Nigeria pushes to assert itself as a serious player in regional and global maritime affairs, with training standards increasingly seen as a key pillar of that ambition.
NIGERIA WATCH: Tracking the story to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies that matter
Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy — As the primary ministry responsible for Nigeria’s maritime sector, the Ministry holds direct policy oversight over maritime training standards, seafarer certification, and the country’s blue economy agenda. The MCoE’s international certification aligns squarely with the Ministry’s mandate to grow Nigeria’s maritime competitiveness globally.
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) — As the statutory authority for maritime labour, seafarer certification, and the regulation of training institutions in Nigeria, NIMASA is the key agency with regulatory interest in the MCoE’s accreditation milestones. The development supports NIMASA’s broader campaign to raise the profile of Nigerian seafarers in international shipping.
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) — Given that the MCoE is a facility tied to Nigeria’s oil and gas marine services sector, and that its training programmes include Gas Tanker Operations and Dynamic Positioning relevant to offshore operations, the NCDMB has a direct stake in ensuring this capacity is harnessed to deepen Nigerian content in the energy sector’s maritime value chain.
Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron — As Nigeria’s foremost federal maritime training institution, MAN Oron operates in the same space as the MCoE. The Nautical Institute certification of a private-sector training hub raises the bar for all maritime training providers in Nigeria and presents an opportunity — and a challenge — for MAN to pursue comparable international accreditations.
National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) — The NBTE has oversight responsibility for technical and vocational training institutions in Nigeria. The MCoE’s growing portfolio of internationally accredited programmes touches on the Board’s mandate to standardise and quality-assure technical education across the country.
Waterways News | Maritime Training & Capacity Development
NIMASA Eyes Malta Registry Model to Overhaul Nigerian Ship Registration
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News Correspondent
Nigeria’s foremost maritime regulatory agency has taken a significant step towards repositioning the Nigerian Ship Registry as a competitive force in global shipping, opening technical cooperation talks with one of the world’s most respected vessel registration authorities.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commenced strategic discussions with the Malta Ship Registry on technical cooperation, capacity building and knowledge transfer aimed at modernising Nigeria’s ship registration architecture and strengthening its standing in the international maritime community.
The talks were initiated on the sidelines of Posidonia 2026 in Athens, Greece, where NIMASA Director-General Dr. Dayo Mobereola held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Ivan Tabone, Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen of the Malta Ship Registry. The encounter brought together the heads of two registries at vastly different stages of global recognition — and signalled Nigeria’s determination to close that gap.
According to NIMASA, discussions centred on ship registration processes, regulatory efficiency, digital transformation and institutional best practices. Both parties explored pathways for structured collaboration that could enhance the efficiency, credibility and international appeal of the Nigerian Ship Registry.
Mobereola used the occasion to reaffirm NIMASA’s commitment to the full automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry in line with international standards — a reform he described as central to the agency’s broader modernisation agenda.
“We are building a transparent, technology-driven registry that will support the growth of Nigeria’s maritime industry and enhance its competitiveness in the global shipping market,” the Director-General stated.
He added that the reforms are designed to improve operational efficiency, encourage indigenous vessel registrations, attract foreign shipping investment and position Nigeria as a leading maritime hub on the African continent. The initiative, Mobereola noted, aligns with the strategic vision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under Minister Adegboyega Oyetola.
The choice of Malta as a knowledge partner is instructive. The Mediterranean island state operates the largest merchant shipping register in Europe and ranks among the top six globally by gross tonnage, with oversight of more than 9,500 vessels. The Malta Ship Registry has earned its reputation through efficient administration, a robust legal framework and strict compliance with international maritime conventions — precisely the attributes that have eluded the Nigerian registry for decades. The statement disclosing the engagement was issued by NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward.
Nigeria Watch
The NIMASA-Malta discussions arrive at a moment when the credibility and competitiveness of the Nigerian Ship Registry have become urgent policy concerns. For years, the registry has struggled to attract and retain vessel registrations — a weakness that has cost Nigeria both revenue and maritime prestige, while many Nigerian-linked vessels have sought registration under more established flags of convenience.
The automation agenda now being championed by Mobereola addresses a foundational problem: a registration system that has historically been paper-heavy, procedurally opaque and slow to respond to the commercial needs of shipowners. A digital, transparent registry would not only attract foreign tonnage but could significantly boost indigenous vessel registration — a key objective of the Cabotage Act and the broader localisation drive under Nigeria’s blue economy policy framework.
Malta’s participation as a technical partner is a credibility signal in itself. Registry administrators, international shipowners and classification societies pay close attention to the governance quality of flag states. If Nigeria can demonstrate that its reforms are anchored in globally validated practices — as Malta’s registry exemplifies — it stands a better chance of shifting perceptions and drawing vessels that currently bypass the Nigerian flag entirely.
The test, as always, will be in execution. Nigeria has announced registry reform ambitions before. What distinguishes the current effort will be the pace of implementation, the depth of institutional change and whether political will at the ministerial level translates into sustained operational reform at NIMASA. The Posidonia dialogue with Malta is a promising opening move — but the industry will be watching for concrete deliverables.
Waterways News | Nigeria’s Maritime & Blue Economy Publication
Blue Economy
NIWA Positions Inland Waterways as Nigeria’s Climate Resilience Infrastructure on World Environment Day
NIWA Positions Inland Waterways as Nigeria’s Climate Resilience Infrastructure on World Environment Day
Agency warns urbanisation is straining river corridors; calls on Nigerians to protect waterways from pollution and illegal dredging
By Emetena Ikuku | Waterways News Maritime Environment Desk
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has declared Nigeria’s rivers and inland channels central to the country’s strategy for managing the environmental pressures of rapid urban growth, as the agency marked the 2026 World Environment Day with a renewed pledge to maintain clean, safe, and sustainable waterways.
Speaking at NIWA’s headquarters in Lokoja, the Authority’s Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Umar Yusuf Girei, tied the agency’s conservation mandate directly to this year’s global theme — “Urbanisation and Climate Change: Building Resilient Cities for a Sustainable Future” — arguing that properly governed inland waterways are not peripheral environmental concerns but frontline infrastructure in Nigeria’s response to climate change.
Girei acknowledged that Nigeria’s urban centres are expanding rapidly along river corridors, which remain vital arteries of commerce, culture, and economic activity. But he cautioned that unplanned urban sprawl is placing acute stress on those same waterways, driving flooding, erosion, riverbank degradation, and rising pollution levels that undermine both ecological health and transport functionality.
“Inland waterways are natural infrastructure for building urban resilience,” Girei stated, explaining that well-managed rivers and drainage channels can absorb flood surges and simultaneously serve as low-carbon corridors for moving people and goods — reducing pressure on road networks that are increasingly overwhelmed in Nigeria’s congested cities.
The NIWA chief reaffirmed the Authority’s operational commitments to responsible dredging practices, systematic protection of riverbanks, and active enforcement against pollution and indiscriminate waste dumping in waterways. He equally called on the private sector, communities, and individual Nigerians to shoulder their share of environmental responsibility — specifically urging citizens to report illegal dredging and encroachment activities, plant vegetation along riverbanks, and adopt proper waste disposal habits.
Girei also renewed NIWA’s advocacy for a broader national shift toward water transportation, describing it as a more sustainable and safer mobility option compared to road transport, particularly in riverine communities and congested urban corridors.
Nigeria Watch
NIWA’s World Environment Day message arrives at a moment of particular urgency for Nigeria’s inland waterways governance landscape. Flooding, illegal sand mining, and unregulated development along river corridors have intensified in recent years across the Niger Delta, the Lower Niger, and urban water systems in Lagos and Anambra states — placing both lives and economic assets at risk.
The framing of inland waterways as “natural infrastructure” signals an important policy evolution: rather than treating rivers purely as transportation assets to be dredged and maintained, NIWA is now articulating a dual-function doctrine in which ecological health and commercial utility are inseparable. This aligns with emerging global thinking on nature-based solutions to urban climate adaptation, and it positions NIWA for potential engagement with international climate finance mechanisms — particularly those linked to the UN’s loss and damage frameworks and adaptation funds under the Paris Agreement.
For the Nigerian maritime and blue economy sector, however, declarations must translate into enforcement. The persistent challenge of illegal dredging — which simultaneously destroys riverbanks, destabilises navigation channels, and accelerates sedimentation — continues largely unchecked across multiple river systems. If NIWA’s renewed commitment on World Environment Day is to carry weight beyond ceremonial rhetoric, stakeholders will be watching for measurable action: prosecution records, joint enforcement operations with the Nigerian Navy and relevant state agencies, and transparent reporting on channel health indicators.
The invitation to ordinary Nigerians to participate in waterway protection is welcome — but community stewardship works only where communities feel economically invested in the waterways around them. Expanding water transport services to underserved riverine communities, making formal jetty infrastructure accessible, and ensuring all water transport operators deliver reliable services are the kinds of structural interventions that build genuine public ownership of the waterways. Goodwill statements on Environment Day are a starting point, not a substitute.
Waterways News is Nigeria’s specialist publication for the maritime and blue economy sector.
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