• ‘Abuja-Maiduguri-Chad-Libya-Spain (by road)
• ‘Akwa lbom-Cameroun-Gabon (by road and by sea)
• ‘Lagos-Spain-Germany (by air)
• ‘Lagos-Liberia (by air)13
• ‘Lagos-Cote D’Ivoire (by air)
• ‘Lagos-US/London(by air)
• ‘Shaki (0yo)-Guinea-Mali-Cote Di’voire (by road)
• ‘Edo- Italy (by air)
• ‘Kano-Niger (by road)
• ‘Edo-Sokoto-Niger-Mali- Burkina Faso
• ‘Oron-Calabar-Cameroun.’64
Back to Contents Section 5 updated: 23 March 2022
5.2 Process of return
5.2.1 The website for the IOM stated in a news article from March 2021: ‘Since 2017, IOM has assisted the voluntary return and reintegration of more than 21,500 Nigerian migrants, of which approximately 15 per cent are victims of trafficking from Libya, Mali, Europe and the Middle East, among others.’ 66 5.2.2 The website for the IOM stated in an undated news article: ‘There is
currently no specialised programme to assist survivors of trafficking who would like to return to their country of origin from the UK but need support to do so. IOM is advocating for this to change to ensure that there are
appropriate risks assessment measures in place and access to reintegration assistance in the place of return.’67
5.2.3 For those that are eligible, a UK Government voluntary return programme provides up to £3000 financial support. To be used in the home country of a returnee, this can be used to find somewhere to live, find a job or start a business.
5.2.4 The April 2021 EASO Trafficking in Human Beings report on Nigeria, based on a range of sources and referring to returns in general not specifically victims of trafficking, stated:
‘On an annual basis, many migrants return to Nigeria. European
governments have established a range of programmes to support Nigerian returnees with their returns and reintegration in Nigeria. The departure country and the question whether the migrant does or does not cooperate with his/her return determine for what type of support programme he/she can apply. Prospective Nigerian returnees based in Europe can use programmes by EU Member State immigration agencies, IOM programmes or support provided through the European Return and Reintegration Network (ERRIN) in the framework of their joint reintegration programmes… Support by national immigration agencies and IOM support is predominantly reserved for voluntary returnees, whereas ERRIN support is provided to both
voluntary and forced returnees according to policies in place in the respective sending countries.’68
5.2.5 The April 2021 EASO Trafficking in Human Beings report on Nigeria, based on a range of sources, stated:
‘The 2015 EASO report on sex trafficking indicated that victims of human trafficking who were deported from Europe often did not receive adequate support at the airport due to a lack of coordination between European authorities and NAPTIP… During the last couple of years, most victims of trafficking who returned to Nigeria came from Libya in the framework of the EU-IOM [International Organization for Migration] programme. In case of return from Europe, it is most likely that victims of trafficking were amongst forced returnees. Research by an international organisation in Nigeria indicated that both under the EU ERRIN [European Return and
Reintegration Network] programme and the EU-IOM programme screening committees involving multiple government agencies have received returnees
66 IOM, ‘IOM Nigeria Joins Authorities to Launch New “Blue Bus” Project to Fight…’, 30 March 2021
67 IOM, ‘Voluntary return and reintegration for survivors of trafficking’, no date
68 EASO, Trafficking in Human Beings (page 43), April 2021
at airports and identified their status and assistance needs… Those who got identified as trafficking victims, were transferred to NAPTIP… This research indicated that cooperation between Europe-based and Nigerian NGOs working on sexual exploitation also sometimes resulted in the identification of trafficking victims after return from Europe…’ 69
5.2.6 The EASO report, citing various sources, also stated:
‘Most voluntary return programmes provide support to returnees upon arrival in Nigeria consisting of the reception of returnees and accommodation during the first day(s) after arrival. Most information about the experiences of migrants upon arrival at Nigerian airports concerns return flights from Libya.
These returnees arrive in big groups of hundreds of migrants. Various sources who witnessed the arrival of this type of return flights, did not register abuse of voluntary returnees from Libya by the authorities… One source captured “patronizing remarks” by customs agents against women perceived to have worked in prostitution…
‘IOM cooperates with various Nigerian government agencies to conduct vulnerability scans with returnees in the countries in which they are stranded, as well as at their point of entry into Nigeria. This helps to identify vulnerable returnees such as survivors of trafficking, torture, and slavery. The Nigerian Port Health collaborates with IOM medics to attend to the emergency needs of survivors via the screening of returnees, the provision of immediate medical assistance and psychosocial aid, and the delivery of a brief orientation session on available assistance options. The IOM’s protection team also cooperates with NAPTIP’s rehabilitation and counselling team in the management of identified trafficking survivors… Human Rights Watch expressed concerns about the efficacy of vulnerability scans/victim
identification efforts at the airport… A witness of a return flight from Libya observed a generally well-organised process, but also indicated that some (traumatised) migrants refused to participate in registration procedures, and that groups of returnees started protesting in the registration area,
demanding empowerment and jobs…
‘Whether there is support for forced returnees from Europe upon arrival at the airport depends on the arrangements made by Frontex or the countries organising repatriation. Sources only described the arrival of forced
returnees for whom there was no support by third parties… Most of these sources did not report abuse by airport officials of returnees… , contrary to the 2015 EASO report on sex trafficking, which cited various sources describing the arrest of deported trafficking victims and cases in which trafficking victims were forced to pay bribes to airport officials to get released… A more recent publication did allude to such experiences, but was based on fieldwork with Nigerian victims before 2015… One source reported to be aware of (more recent) cases where Nigerian airport officials had confiscated ID documents of forced returnees… Another source
reported to be aware of a case where airport officials had threatened to put a forced returnee in prison if he would not pay them a bribe… Sources
indicated that the key issue forced returnees faced was the lack of
accommodation upon arrival in Nigeria… This is problematic, as the airports
69 EASO, Trafficking in Human Beings (page 45-46), April 2021
where returnees arrive can be hundreds of kilometres away from their regions of origin. This is particularly problematic when planes arrive late at night, as is often the case… A source indicated that forced returnees who had no place to go upon arrival were sometimes supported by churches…
The return of forced returnees was sometimes perceived by witnesses as hectic…’70
5.2.7 The USSD TiP Report 2021 – Nigeria - stated: ‘During the previous reporting period, NAPTIP and an international organization screened all returnees from Libya for trafficking indicators and referred the identified trafficking victims to NAPTIP facilities or NGOs.’71
Back to Contents Section 6 updated: 23 March 2022