L’organisation humanitaire Alarm Phone a fait état de plusieurs appels de détresse provenant de trois groupes de migrants qui tentaient de rejoindre la Grèce, dont 75 personnes bloquées en mer agitée au sud de la Crète.

Dans une série de publications sur X, l’organisation a indiqué que le groupe de 75 personnes se trouvait dans une situation de grande détresse, de l’eau s’infiltrant dans leur embarcation alors qu’elle dérivait au milieu de fortes vagues.

Alarm Phone a précisé que les migrants étaient pris de panique et a appelé les garde-côtes grecs à poursuivre les recherches, après que les autorités auraient déclaré ne pas avoir réussi à localiser l’embarcation, malgré la transmission de coordonnées actualisées.

Dans un autre incident signalé le 1er novembre, l’organisation a indiqué avoir reçu un appel de détresse de 53 personnes bloquées au sud de la Crète.

Selon Alarm Phone, elle avait alerté les garde-côtes grecs la veille au soir et avait été informée qu’une opération de recherche était en cours.

Le groupe aurait été privé de nourriture et d’eau potable dans l’attente des secours.

Cependant, l’organisation a indiqué par la suite que des proches des migrants l’avaient informée du sauvetage du groupe. Les garde-côtes grecs ont également confirmé avoir secouru une embarcation dans la zone.

Alarm Phone s’est réjouie de ce sauvetage, exprimant l’espoir que toutes les personnes à bord étaient saines et sauves.

Dans un autre incident, l’organisation a signalé qu’environ 71 migrants, dont deux femmes enceintes et des enfants, avaient atteint l’île grecque d’Ikaria après l’avoir contactée alors qu’ils étaient encore en mer.

Le groupe aurait sollicité une assistance médicale urgente, Alarm Phone avertissant que plusieurs personnes vulnérables parmi les migrants nécessitaient une prise en charge immédiate.

L’organisation a ensuite indiqué avoir rétabli le contact avec les migrants, qui ont confirmé se trouver dans un commissariat de police sur l’île.

Alarm Phone leur a souhaité beaucoup de courage et de bonne chance pour la suite de leur parcours.

Ces incidents mettent en évidence les risques persistants auxquels sont confrontés les migrants qui tentent de traverser la mer dans des conditions dangereuses pour rejoindre les pays européens, particulièrement lorsque les conditions météorologiques sont défavorables.

Nigerians lose an estimated N75 billion annually to visa application fees and related expenses, with unsuccessful applications to Schengen countries alone accounting for about N19 billion in 2025, according to a report obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The report attributed the losses to rising visa charges, high rejection rates and the non-refundable nature of fees paid to foreign embassies, leaving thousands of Nigerians financially disadvantaged when their applications are rejected.

Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain and the United States were identified as some of the destinations where Nigerian applicants face significant financial risks due to stringent immigration requirements and high visa refusal rates.

Additional costs increase financial burden

The report noted that the cost of applying for visas goes beyond official application fees to include payments for visa application centres, medical insurance, hotel reservations, flight bookings and other supporting documents.

Depending on the destination, an unsuccessful visa application could cost an applicant between N350,000 and N1.2 million, even when the visa is eventually denied.

The situation has raised concerns about the financial implications of international travel for Nigerians, particularly students, tourists and other prospective travellers who must meet demanding documentation requirements before their applications are considered.

Canada, Schengen countries record high rejection rates

Canada reportedly rejected 75 per cent of Nigerian study permit applications between January and April 2026, meaning only one in four applicants received approval during the period.

The report attributed the high refusal rate largely to concerns among Canadian immigration authorities about whether applicants would leave the country after completing their studies.

Within the Schengen Area, Belgium recorded the highest visa refusal rate for Nigerian applicants at 60.3 per cent, followed by Spain at 52.7 per cent and France at 47.4 per cent.

The overall Schengen visa rejection rate for Nigerians increased to 46.9 per cent in 2025, compared with 45.9 per cent in 2024.

Approximately 250,000 applications were rejected during the period, resulting in an estimated N19 billion in losses to Nigerian applicants, according to the report.

UK, US also pose challenges

The United Kingdom recorded an overall visa refusal rate of 33.1 per cent for Nigerian applicants in 2025, which reportedly rose to 35.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.

Visitor visa applications had an estimated rejection rate of 38.6 per cent, exposing applicants to potential financial losses from non-refundable fees and travel-related arrangements.

For the United States, the report put the refusal rate for African applicants seeking F-1 student visas at approximately 64 per cent.

The figures underscore the financial risks confronting prospective international students and travellers who spend substantial amounts preparing their applications without any guarantee of approval.

Japan increases visa charges

Japan was identified as one of the destinations with relatively lower visa rejection rates for Nigerians, estimated at between 12 and 15 per cent.

However, the country reportedly increased its visa charges fivefold from July 1, 2026. A single-entry visa now costs ¥15,000, while multiple-entry applications attract a fee of ¥30,000.

The report also highlighted the cost of obtaining visas for other popular destinations.

A 10-year UK visitor visa was estimated at approximately N2.09 million, while a six-month visitor visa costs about N203,000.

The United States B1/B2 visitor visa was put at approximately N299,700, while Canadian visitor visa and biometric charges stood at about N205,000.

Visa-free destinations recommended

To reduce potential financial losses, the report advised Nigerians to consider destinations offering visa-free entry, visas on arrival or electronic travel authorisation, subject to meeting the relevant eligibility requirements.

Countries identified as possible alternatives include Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo, Senegal, The Gambia, Rwanda, Mauritius, Barbados and Dominica.

However, prospective travellers were urged to confirm applicable entry requirements before making travel plans, as visa-free arrangements and other immigration policies may change.

The report also advised intending travellers to verify current visa requirements through official government channels before paying application fees or committing funds to flight bookings, hotel reservations and other travel arrangements.

Humanitarian organisation SOS Humanity has accused the European Union border agency, Frontex, of facilitating the interception of migrants and refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea and their illegal return to Libya, where they face torture, rape, arbitrary detention and other forms of abuse.

The organisation said Frontex’s aerial surveillance operations, involving aircraft and drones, were being used to provide information about boats carrying migrants to actors responsible for intercepting them and returning them to detention centres in Libya.

In a statement, SOS Humanity raised concerns over the EU’s decision to further strengthen Frontex’s budget and expand its powers, despite mounting allegations of human rights violations against the agency.

It cited the case of a Sudanese man who is being supported by the organisation front-LEX to take legal action against Frontex before European courts.

According to SOS Humanity, the man made several attempts to cross the Mediterranean after fleeing Sudan but was intercepted each time by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard and returned to Libya.

The organisation said his experience reflected accounts repeatedly shared by survivors rescued by its humanitarian vessels.

It also referred to an incident in June 2026, when Frontex reportedly acknowledged sharing information about a distress-at-sea situation with Libyan authorities.

Following the incident, the so-called Libyan Coast Guard allegedly rammed a boat carrying people fleeing across the Mediterranean, including children, causing some to fall into the water, while others were beaten aboard the patrol vessel.

SOS Humanity further said allegations against Frontex had been mounting for years, citing investigations by journalists and monitoring organisations, including Aegean Boat Report, into the agency’s alleged involvement in or concealment of violent pushbacks along the European Union’s external borders with Greece.

It also highlighted investigations in France involving former Frontex director Fabrice Leggeri over alleged crimes against humanity. Leggeri is accused of encouraging agency staff to facilitate interceptions by Libyan and Greek authorities.

The humanitarian organisation said it had consistently criticised Frontex’s aerial surveillance activities, arguing that they were being used to facilitate the forced interception of migrants rather than rescue people in distress at sea.

David Yambio, executive director of the Refugees in Libya initiative and godfather of SOS Humanity’s rescue vessel Humanity 2, accused the agency of contributing to abuses against migrants.

“Today more than ever, Frontex, the long, violent arm of Europe, is making everything more dangerous. We will continue, for the years to come, to fight and demand justice and accountability,” Yambio said.

SOS Humanity said it would continue monitoring and documenting activities at sea and advocating for the protection of migrants and refugees.

It stressed that people rescued or found in distress in the Mediterranean should be taken to places of safety, in accordance with their rights under international law.