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It’s time to change our failing, immoral border policies – Aegean Boat Report

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2 years ago

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Over the last month we ( Aegean Boat Report) have registered a shift in routes used by people seeking international protection in the Aegean Sea.

Normally, people crossing from Turkey towards the Greek islands have had Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Kos as their main destination. Now, smaller islands seem to get more arrivals.

Why this is happening now could have severe explanations, but we believe more focus and surveillance by Greek authorities and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex, around the bigger islands is the main reason.

This, together with a more active approach by the Turkish authorities to actually try to stop boats from crossing into Greek waters, and the fact that they are moving Afghans away from coastal areas in the North Aegean, has drastically reduced crossings.

We are now in almost daily contact with people arriving on islands like Ikaria, Fournoi, Patmos, Leipsoi, Nisyros, Tilos, Pserimos and Kalimnos, previously this was the exception, now it’s starting to move towards the rule.

This might seem like a strange change, since people arriving on the main islands don’t face the risk of being pushed back as they previously did. The “hunt” for new arrivals by masked men suddenly stopped after the Pylos shipwreck, and as far as we have been able to document, all arrivals on these main islands, are now taken to camps and given the opportunity to apply for international protection.

But this is many times not the case on these smaller islands: especially the less populated ones. So why would people take the chance of going there, if the risk of being pushed back is higher?

The problem isn’t that they fear being pushed back after they arrive on a Greek island, they fear more being pushed back at sea before they arrive. The risk of being pushed back from smaller islands, especially deserted ones, is a genuine risk that we have documented, but it seems they are willing to take this risk, because the risk of being pushed back at sea around the main islands is much higher.

On and around the main islands the surveillance has drastically increased over the last years, more eyes are watching the sea area, not only those of Greek authorities, but also of Frontex, from land, air and sea. The chance of getting across the sea border in these areas was previously very low. Now, after Turkish authorities have intensified their efforts to stop boats in these areas, it’s almost impossible to get across undetected. The chance of getting across in these main areas has gone from 70% to under 30% in just a month. We believe this is no coincidence, and is suspected to be firmly linked to a deal made between Greece and Turkey, supported by the EU Commission. What Turkey has been offered is so far unknown, but it’s highly unlikely that Turkey would settle for nickels and dimes.

To understand this shift in movement, you need to have some understanding of how smugglers operate in Turkey. It’s not as if the people in the boats have much say in the decision on whether they are sent towards a big island or a small one: they basically do as they are told and hope for the best.

Smugglers only get paid if they successfully manage to get their “product” transported from point A to point B. If for some reason the transport is stopped and returned, the smugglers don’t receive payment, and are given a new opportunity to successfully deliver their services. If they are unsuccessful several times, the customer can take their money to another smuggler, leaving the previous smuggler with the costs of boats, engines, petrol etc. without getting paid. This is of course not good for business, and if too many obstacles are hindering their work, they change strategy. This is what we believe has happened.

Crossing attempts in the Aegean Sea the last month has gone down by more than 50%, from 246 cases in February, to 119 in March. We normally would have expected that pushback cases, and especially cases where people are pushed back in life rafts, would follow a similar pattern. On the contrary, despite the fact that crossing attempts have gone down by more than 50%, cases in which people have been forced into life rafts and left helplessly drifting in the Aegean Sea have not decreased, but instead increased 8% compared to February.

It’s a worrying development worth noting. It’s that smugglers in Turkey are now targeting these smaller islands as their transport destinations, not out of the kindness of their hearts and a genuine concern for their customers wellbeing, but out of necessity to make money off the back of vulnerable people, whose routes towards safety in Europe have been firmly closed by European authorities.

People are now arriving on islands which are not equipped or prepared to handle increased arrivals, nor have the necessary infrastructure and resources to quickly initiate rescue operations, if boats are in distress.

None of the main humanitarian organizations have staff on these smaller islands. There is basically no ground support in place to support them with shelter, food, clothes and medical attention. Also, the routes towards these islands are longer: any crossing in a rubber boat towards any island is very dangerous, and the more time people must stay in these fragile boats, the higher the risk of something going terribly wrong.

We fear – in fact, we are certain – that more lives will be unnecessarily lost if smugglers continue to use these longer routes.

The only solution to this problem, and the only way to put smugglers in Turkey out of business, is not to put in place more obstacles, but to open legal safe pathways into Europe for people seeking international protection.

The smuggling industry in Turkey making billions from people’s suffering, is a product of our time, it was not created in a vacuum. Smugglers have existed as long as people and states have tried to hinder the movement of goods and people: for better or for worse, they are serving a purpose, responding to and providing for, a demand in the market, not from kindness, but necessity. Any market is driven by a very simple principle, supply and demand, one will not exist without the other. We can in this case ask who or what created the demand, and the answer isn’t rocket science.

When we put up walls and fences, we at the same time create an opportunity for people to make money. We might try to say “we are not responsible”, and directly this is in many cases true, but indirectly we are very much responsible: anyone denying this fact is delusional.

Throughout history people have, for various reasons, wandered this Earth, and over time moved from one area to the next, following mainly resources and climate change.

Nothing has changed, people are still in need of finding new places to live, mostly out of necessity, as a result of war and climate change, but now we have put up fences and walls to try to hinder people from finding safety, with the excuse of self-preservation and protection.

In the short term, it might seem to be “working”, but in the long run nothing can stop people from moving. If determined or desperate enough, they will always find a way, a more dangerous and deadly way, but in the end it will not matter, because they have no other alternative if they want to live.

It is well beyond time that the Greek government, and all governments, including the EU, recognised this.

Not only are the policies of ‘deterrence’ incredibly expensive, they are absolutely failing. Of course they are: by increasing the risk and reality of mass death on the sea, they are efforts to force the entire flow of human history to change.

They are doomed to always fail. For the good of our moral health, for the good of our economic health, and for the welfare of men, women and children like ourselves, we have to change.

In place of our litany of failure, at the cost of tens of thousands of deaths, we must set up safe routes, in affordable or free transport, for those who need it, to save lives, save enormous amounts of money, and put smugglers out of business.

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Nigeria makes case for global migration

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6 days ago

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September 12, 2026

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has made a strong case for global migration, saying nations and cities around the world have historically been shaped not only by indigenous populations but also by immigrants.

Shettima argued that migration remained a major driver of development, innovation and economic growth, stressing that countries could benefit significantly from the skills, businesses, knowledge and ideas migrants bring to their host societies.

The Vice President spoke on Saturday during a meeting with the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the sidelines of the ongoing BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima cited the achievements of Nigerians in the diaspora as evidence of the positive contributions migrants make to countries of destination.

“Nations are built by immigrants. Even cities are built by people who came from outside, not just by the locals. That goes to show that we have so much to gain from global migration,” he said.

Shettima highlighted the educational and professional accomplishments of Nigerians living abroad, particularly in the United States.

He cited a recent Pew Research Center analysis of 2024 US Census Bureau data, which found that 67 per cent of Nigerian-born Black immigrants aged 25 and above in the United States held at least a bachelor’s degree—the highest proportion among the major Black immigrant groups examined.

The Vice President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the WTO and the multilateral trading system, insisting that no country could afford to isolate itself from the global community.

He pledged Nigeria’s continued support for the WTO’s efforts to strengthen multilateralism and promote an international system based on cooperation rather than isolation.

“I believe the world is greater than one nation. We will continue to support the WTO in championing the cause of multilateralism. We are essentially one human family and interconnected. You cannot divorce yourself from the global community,” Shettima said.

He also commended Okonjo-Iweala for her leadership of the WTO, urging her to continue deploying her experience and expertise to advance global development.

“You are doing a very wonderful job at the WTO, but you still have a lot to contribute to humanity,” he told the WTO chief.

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Osemene promet un leadership inclusif et une action renforcée contre la traite en tant que président élu de NACTAL

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1 week ago

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September 11, 2026

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Le président élu du Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) Nigeria, le camarade Osita Osemene, s’est engagé à unir les membres et à renforcer les capacités de l’organisation pour lutter contre la traite des êtres humains, les abus et le travail des enfants au Nigeria et dans la région de l’Afrique de l’Ouest.

Osemene a pris cet engagement dans son discours d’acceptation après avoir été élu président de la NACTAL. Il a exprimé sa gratitude aux délégués pour la confiance qu’ils lui ont accordée et félicité la direction de l’organisation pour avoir créé un environnement favorable à la tenue d’une élection crédible et transparente.

Il a également salué les contributions du président sortant, estimant que le leadership et le travail de l’ancienne administration avaient contribué de manière importante au développement continu du réseau.

S’adressant aux membres, Osemene a déclaré que l’élection était désormais terminée et les a exhortés à laisser derrière eux les divisions.

« Il n’y a ni camps ni divisions. Il n’y a qu’une seule NACTAL Nigeria, et je suis le président de tous », a-t-il déclaré.

Le président élu a également remercié les ministères, départements et agences gouvernementales, les réseaux de la société civile, les organisations de développement et les partenaires internationaux pour leur soutien et leur collaboration avec la NACTAL.

Parmi les institutions et organisations citées figuraient la National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), la National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), l’Organisation internationale pour les migrations (OIM), le Centre international pour le développement des politiques migratoires (ICMPD), l’Organisation internationale du Travail (OIT), l’Union européenne, la GIZ, ActionAid, la Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), la National Directorate of Employment (NDE), la National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), le Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), la Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), la National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), le ministère fédéral du Travail et de l’Emploi, la Commission de la CEDEAO et la Nigeria Police Force.

Osemene a déclaré que son administration s’appuierait sur cinq grandes priorités visant à repositionner la NACTAL et à accroître son impact.

Selon lui, ces priorités comprennent le renforcement des capacités et l’autonomisation économique ; l’inclusion et la transparence ; la durabilité institutionnelle ; le renforcement de la lutte contre la traite et de la mise en œuvre des politiques ; ainsi que le leadership régional au sein de la CEDEAO.

Il a souligné que le mandat confié à la nouvelle administration ne resterait pas une simple victoire électorale, mais serait transformé en un plan d’action.

« Le mandat que nous avons reçu est désormais un plan d’action », a-t-il déclaré, promettant de mettre en place une administration axée sur des résultats concrets et sur le renforcement des structures institutionnelles.

Osemene a également révélé que les travaux avaient déjà commencé autour de l’une des principales priorités de son administration. Il a indiqué que l’évaluation des capacités organisationnelles des organisations dirigées par des survivants, qu’il avait entamée avant l’élection, constituerait l’un des fondements du programme de renforcement des capacités prévu par la NACTAL.

Il a appelé les membres de la NACTAL, les anciens responsables, les coordinateurs zonaux et étatiques, les jeunes professionnels ainsi que les partenaires à soutenir la nouvelle administration dans l’accomplissement de son mandat.

« L’élection est terminée. Le mandat a été confié. Le travail commence maintenant », a déclaré Osemene.

Il s’est dit convaincu que, grâce aux efforts collectifs, la NACTAL Nigeria pourrait s’appuyer sur ses réalisations actuelles pour accroître son influence à l’échelle régionale.

« Ensemble, passons d’un leadership éprouvé à un leadership ouest-africain », a-t-il déclaré.

Osemene a conclu en sollicitant le soutien continu des membres et des partenaires et en priant pour le progrès de la NACTAL Nigeria et de la République fédérale du Nigeria.

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Osemene pledges inclusive leadership, stronger anti-trafficking action as NACTAL President-Elect

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1 week ago

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September 11, 2026

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Comrade Osita Osemene, President-elect of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) Nigeria, has pledged to unite members and strengthen the organisation’s capacity to combat human trafficking, child abuse and labour across Nigeria and the West African region.

Osemene made the commitment in his acceptance speech after emerging as president-elect of NACTAL, where he expressed gratitude to delegates for the confidence reposed in him and commended the organisation’s leadership for providing an enabling environment for a credible and transparent election.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing president, describing the leadership and work of the former administration as important to the continued development of the network.

Addressing members, Osemene declared that the election had ended and urged members to put divisions behind them.

“There are no camps or divisions. There is only one NACTAL Nigeria, and I am President for all,” he said.

The president-elect also appreciated government ministries, departments and agencies, civil society networks, development organisations and international partners for their support and collaboration with NACTAL.

Among those acknowledged were the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), International Labour Organization (ILO), European Union, GIZ, ActionAid, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), National Senior Citizens Centre (NSDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, ECOWAS Commission and the Nigeria Police Force.

Osemene said his administration would pursue five major priorities aimed at repositioning NACTAL and expanding its impact.

These, according to him, include capacity building and economic empowerment; inclusion and transparency; institutional sustainability; stronger counter-trafficking and policy implementation; and regional leadership within ECOWAS.

He stressed that the mandate given to the new administration would not remain a mere electoral victory but would be translated into an action plan.

“The mandate we have received is now an action plan,” he said, promising to build an administration focused on practical results and stronger institutional structures.

Osemene further disclosed that work had already commenced towards one of the administration’s key priorities, noting that the organisational capacity assessment of survivor-led organisations which he began before the election would form part of the foundation for NACTAL’s planned capacity-building programme.

He called on NACTAL members, veterans, zonal and state coordinators, young professionals and partners to support the incoming administration in delivering on its mandate.

“The election is over. The mandate has been given. The work begins now,” Osemene declared.

He expressed confidence that through collective effort, NACTAL Nigeria could progress from its existing achievements to greater regional influence.

“Together, let us move from proven leadership to West African leadership,” he said.

Osemene concluded by seeking the continued support of members and partners and prayed for the progress of NACTAL Nigeria and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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