News
Norwegian police allegations against me untrue-Tommy Olsen
Founder of Aegean Boat Report, Tommy Olsen has described allegations levelled against him by the Norwegian police as baseless and untrue. He said the move was a calculated attempt to silence him.
Olsen was arrested last week in connection with a European Arrest Warrant issued by Greece.
Olsen said: “As most of you know, I was arrested by Norwegian police last week in connection with a European Arrest Warrant issued by Greece, based on allegations I categorically reject. The accusations against me are: • participation in and membership of a criminal organization • facilitating the entry into Greek territory of third-country nationals, allegedly committed repeatedly, by two or more persons, for profit, and in the course of professional activity • facilitating the unlawful stay or resistance of third-country nationals, allegedly for profit and on a repeated basis None of these allegations are true. I have seen no credible evidence to substantiate them.”
For years, Olsen said “I have documented and published evidence of serious human rights violations against people on the move in the Aegean. These include violent pushbacks, illegal expulsions, abuse, and actions that have put countless lives at risk. The evidence is extensive. Yet accountability has remained absent. Europe has too often looked away in the name of border protection. The European Commission has for years continued to support Greek border operations despite mounting evidence of grave abuses.
“This has helped create a climate of impunity, where Greece has effectively become a testing ground for how far state violence can go without meaningful political consequences. On 14 June 2023, more than 600 people died off Pylos when the fishing vessel Adriana sank after an attempted intervention by the Greek Coast Guard. Despite the scale of the disaster, there has been no independent EU investigation, no infringement proceedings, and no accountability for those responsible.
“At the same time, Greek authorities have systematically targeted individuals and organisations that expose abuses. Judicial harassment, criminal investigations, arrests, and years-long legal proceedings have become tools of intimidation. The purpose is clear: to silence criticism, discourage documentation, and create a chilling effect on frontline defenders and whistleblowers. For more than six years, I have personally faced harassment and threats because of my work documenting abuses in Greece. Considerable effort has been invested in trying to silence me.”
Continuing, he said: “Now Norwegian authorities have been asked to act on Greece’s behalf. So far, it appears they are doing so without properly confronting the obvious political context of this case. I may have been naive in my faith in the Norwegian legal system. The idea that a whistleblower and human rights defender can be handed over to the very state authorities he has spent years scrutinising is deeply alarming.
“If those accused of serious abuses can issue an unfounded arrest warrant against a critic, and other European states simply comply, what message does that send? Who will dare to speak out? Who will continue documenting injustice? Frontline human rights defenders are essential to democracy, the rule of law, and accountability. Yet around the world, they are increasingly targeted through false accusations, judicial harassment, and arbitrary detention. The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders affirms the right to carry out peaceful human rights work without fear of criminalisation. States have an obligation to protect defenders, not help silence them. Right now, I believe Norwegian authorities have failed badly in that responsibility.”
*INITIATIVE FOR YOUTH AWARENESS ON MIGRATION, IMMIGRATION, DEVELOPMENT AND REINTEGRATION – IYAMIDR NIGERIA*
Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
*OPEN LETTER*
*Date: 26th June, 2026*
*Ref: IYAMIDR/OL/HEALTH/06/2026*
*To:*
*His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR*
*President, Federal Republic of Nigeria*
*Aso Villa, Abuja*
*Solomon Okoduwa*
*Executive Director, IYAMIDR Nigeria*
*RE: URGENT NATIONAL INTERVENTION TO STOP THE COLLAPSE OF NIGERIA’S HEALTH SECTOR AMID DANGEROUS ‘MEDICAL JAPA’ TREND*
Your Excellency, Mr. President,
*About IYAMIDR Nigeria:* The Initiative For Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration, IYAMIDR Nigeria, is a Benin City-based non-profit organization working on safe migration, brain drain mitigation, and the reintegration of skilled Nigerians. We engage youths, health professionals, and policymakers to ensure Nigeria retains the human capital required for national development.
I write with grave concern on behalf of millions of Nigerians who may soon have no doctors or nurses left to treat them. Nigeria is bleeding its health workforce. This is no longer “brain drain”. It is a hemorrhage that threatens national survival.
*1. THE EMERGENCY BY NUMBERS*
– *Over 50,000 Nigerian-trained doctors* now practice abroad. We may have more doctors outside than inside Nigeria.¹
– *4,193 doctors and dentists left in 2024 alone, with 66% going to the UK.*
– *43,221 doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and lab scientists* left between 2023-2024.
– *23,000+ Nigerian nurses and midwives* migrated abroad 2023-2024. *16,156 Nigerian-trained nurses/midwives* are licensed in the UK as of Sept 30, 2025.
– *Doctor-to-population ratio: 1:5,000 vs WHO 1:600. Nurse-to-population: 1:2,000 vs WHO 1:300.*²
*2. WHY THEY ARE LEAVING: THE UNACCEPTABLE PAY & HAZARD GAP*
The pay disparity is the single biggest driver of ‘Medical Japa:
1. *Nigeria*: Doctors earn ~₦240,000/month ≈ $313. Entry-level doctors earn ₦1.81m/year ≈ $5,912. Nurses earn ~₦110,000-₦130,000/month.
2. *United Kingdom*: Doctors earn ~£2,448/month ≈ $2,967. NHS Band 5 nurses earn £2,498-£3,040/month ≈ ₦3.6m-₦4.4m. This means a UK nurse earns about 20 times a Nigerian nurse.
3. *United States*: Doctors average $316,000/year. Registered Nurses average $6,278/month ≈ ₦7.5m, with many earning $100,000+/year.
4. *Canada*: Doctors average $194,000/year. Nurses earn CAD 70,000+ ≈ ₦140.6m/year.
5. *Australia*: Nurses earn £80,091/year ≈ ₦146.8m.
6. *Even within West Africa*: Nurses earn $3,000-$4,000/month, which is 3 to 4 times Nigerian pay.
*Translation*: A UK doctor can earn a Nigerian entry-level doctor’s entire annual salary in less than 3 days.⁴
Beyond pay, our doctors and nurses face 72-hour shifts, non-working equipment, insecurity, and no insurance. 88% of doctors and 50% of nurses have considered leaving unless conditions improve.⁵
*3. THE IMPLICATION IF WE DELAY*
1. *Healthcare Collapse*: Rural and public hospitals will be left empty.
2. *Rising Medical Tourism*: Government will waste more forex abroad because we have no specialists at home.
3. *National Security Threat*: Inability to respond to epidemics, disasters, or military health needs.
4. *Wasted Investment*: Nigeria spends over *N220bn* training doctors only for other nations to benefit.
*4. OUR DEMANDS FOR URGENT ACTION WITHIN 90 DAYS*
We call on you, Mr. President, and all CC’d authorities to make this a strategic political concern:
1. *Emergency Retention Pay Scale*: Review CONMESS/CONHESS immediately. Pay Nigerian health workers at least 50% of UK Band 5 entry for nurses and a living wage for doctors. Pay all hazard/rural allowances.
2. *Fix Hospitals Now*: Equip facilities, provide insurance, security, and enforce humane duty rosters. No more doctors dying after 72-hour shifts.
3. *End Punitive Migration Barriers*: Review the NMCN 2-year rule and 6-month verification delay. Welfare retains, not restrictions.
4. *Diaspora Engagement*: Create a “Health Diaspora Bond” and circular migration for Nigerian doctors abroad to return, teach, or run telehealth for Nigeria.
5. *Adopt the Military Model*: Extend the Military Salary Structure’s welfare approach to civilian health workers, plus housing and education priority.
Mr. President, Edo State and Nigeria cannot afford to be a training academy for the UK, US, Canada, and Australia while Nigerians die at home. We must act now, or there will be no health sector left to save.
Respectfully submitted,
*Solomon Okoduwa*
*Executive Director, IYAMIDR Nigeria*
*Benin City, Edo State | Email : iyamidr@gmail.com| http://www.iyamidr.org*
*CC:*
1. *Senator Monday Okpebholo*, Executive Governor, Edo State, Benin City
2. *Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Health*, Abuja, Nigeria
3. *Nigeria Medical Association, NMA*, National Secretariat, Abuja
4. *National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC*, Abuja, Nigeria
The Platform for Cooperation on Mixed Migration (PCMM) has appointed Innocent Duru, an Assistant Editor (News) with The Nation Newspaper as the chairman of its Working Group on Regular Pathways and Trafficking in Persons.
The appointment, which took effect on June 18, 2026, was conveyed in a letter signed by PCMM Director, Aihawu Victor.
According to the organisation, Duru’s appointment is in recognition of his experience, commitment, and contributions to migration discourse, human rights protection, and advocacy for vulnerable persons.
PCMM expressed confidence that his leadership would provide the strategic direction and coordination needed to strengthen the activities of the thematic working group.
“As Chair of the Working Group on Regular Pathways/Trafficking in Persons, your role will include providing strategic leadership and coordination for the activities of the group, facilitating meetings and consultations among members, and supporting PCMM in identifying key issues, gaps, and emerging trends relating to migration and trafficking in persons,” the appointment letter stated.
The organisation outlined several responsibilities for the new chair, including leading the development of policy recommendations, advocacy messages, and position papers; promoting collaboration among civil society organisations, government agencies, development partners, and community actors; and encouraging knowledge-sharing and coordinated responses to migration challenges.
Duru will also be expected to support awareness campaigns on safe, orderly, and regular migration pathways while contributing to efforts aimed at preventing trafficking in persons and protecting survivors.
Other responsibilities include providing periodic updates and reports to PCMM leadership, representing the working group at meetings and advocacy engagements, and upholding the organisation’s values of promoting rights-based and humane responses to mixed migration.
PCMM noted that it expects the working group, under Duru’s leadership, to make significant contributions to the protection of migrants, the promotion of safer migration options, and the fight against human trafficking.
In accepting the appointment, Duru pledged to discharge his responsibilities in line with the vision, values, and objectives of the organisation.
The Platform for Cooperation on Mixed Migration is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on addressing migration challenges through collaboration, policy engagement, and the promotion of rights-based approaches to migration management and protection.
Sea-Watch is putting a new rescue vessel into service: With the Aurora 2, the organization is responding to the repeated detentions of civilian rescue ships by the Italian authorities. Now, Sea-Watch will remain operational even when one of its ships is detained. While one ship is blocked in port, the other will be available to carry out rescue missions. The far-right government’s strategy of limiting rescue operations through arbitrary detentions has therefore failed.
Julia Winkler, spokesperson for the organization Sea-Watch:
“Italy is detaining rescue ships to stop people from being rescued. With the Aurora 2, we are making sure this strategy fails. If one of our vessels is detained, the other will be ready to save lives. By expanding our fleet, we are fighting back against the far-right Italian government’s efforts to obstruct civilian search and rescue at sea.”
In the Mediterranean, speed is a matter of life and death. Every distress case is a race against time. That is why Sea-Watch operates not only the large vessel Sea-Watch 5 but also a smaller, faster ship—the Aurora. The Aurora reaches top speeds of up to 25 knots, allowing it to quickly reach people in distress at sea. With the Aurora 2, the organization is now specifically expanding its operational capabilities.
The acquisition of the Aurora 2 is a direct response to the far-right Italian government’s policy of systematically detaining civilian rescue ships. Since 2023, the Meloni cabinet has detained civilian sea rescue ships in port more than forty times. As a result, the entire civilian fleet has lost more than 900 days of operational time. The Aurora has also been blocked five times already. Italian courts subsequently overturned the rulings on several occasions. However, by the time the respective court decisions were issued, the Aurora had lost a total of 113 days of operational time.
With the Aurora 2, Sea-Watch is specifically countering this strategy. If one of the ships is detained, the other can continue to set sail and rescue people in distress at sea. In this way, the organization ensures its independence from bureaucratic blockades and guarantees the continuation of its rescue operations.
The detentions of civil search and rescue vessels are politically motivated and cost lives. The Mediterranean is one of the deadliest borders in the world. More than 34,000 people have been reported dead or missing since 2014. The actual number is estimated to be significantly higher. With its new ship, the Aurora 2, Sea-Watch can continue to quickly rescue people from drowning — even if one of its ships is blocked by the far-right Italian government.
Sea-Watch is part of the Justice Fleet, an alliance whose members are committed to upholding human rights and international maritime law. Its members refuse to comply with instructions provided for in the so-called Piantedosi Decree that conflict with international law and human rights obligations and are primarily intended to hinder rescue operations. As a result, their vessels are regularly detained by the Italian authorities. In recent months, Italian courts have overturned detention orders imposed on several Justice Fleet vessels in summary proceedings. Rulings on the overall legality of the Decree are still pending.
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU BY IYAMIDR
Leading scholars, policymakers, practitioners to grace 2nd CEAUP migration conference
PCMM appoints Innocent Duru as regular pathways, trafficking in persons chairman
Rights group reports rise in abuses, hate speech against migrants in Libya
