Mercy Oluwagbenga, a young Nigerian woman recently rescued from Libya, has issued a heartfelt plea to fellow Nigerians, especially youths, urging them not to embark on dangerous and illegal migration routes in search of greener pastures.

Oluwagbenga, whose emotional video from Libya went viral, shared her traumatic experience during a visit to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Abuja, where she was received by the Commission’s Chairperson, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

“Whatever your situation, do not travel through dangerous routes,” she warned, recounting the horrors she endured.

Mercy, an indigene of Kabba in Kogi State, explained that she dropped out of university at age 20 to support her ailing mother. Lured by promises of better opportunities abroad, she was trafficked to Libya, where the reality turned out to be far worse than imagined.

“I spent one year and six months working without pay. All my earnings went toward repaying an agent who claimed I owed ₦2.5 million for my travel,” she said tearfully.

She revealed that she suffered severe abuse, was forced into multiple exploitative jobs, and was at one point locked up in a house where her blood was extracted without consent.

“Nigerians like me in Libya are treated like animals. I was lucky to escape into a camp where I found help,” she said.

Miss Oluwagbenga expressed deep gratitude to Hon. Dabiri-Erewa, Dr. Segun Abraham of Trinity Foundation, and other partners who facilitated her safe return to Nigeria.

She also mourned the death of her mother, who passed away while she was still trapped in Libya. Mercy now hopes to resume her education, which she abandoned in 2018 at 300 level, and is seeking assistance to return to school.

“I don’t want any young girl or boy to go through what I went through. Please don’t take this route,” she urged.

“I’m ready to work with NIDCOM to educate young people about the dangers of irregular migration.”

In her remarks, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa praised Mercy’s resilience and courage, calling her “one of the lucky ones”, a survivor in a crisis that has claimed many lives.

“Too many young Nigerians have died in the desert or drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. Many more remain missing. Irregular migration is nothing short of voluntary suicide,” she stated.

Dabiri-Erewa thanked Dr. Segun Abraham for the financial support that made Mercy’s repatriation possible, and assured that NiDCOM will support her rehabilitation and education.

She also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the launch of NELFUND, an education financing initiative designed to help students like Mercy stay in school, reducing the pressure to seek risky alternatives abroad.

“With support systems like NELFUND, there’s no need for any young Nigerian to drop out of school due to financial hardship,” she added.

NiDCOM reiterated its commitment to combating human trafficking and irregular migration through advocacy, support for returnees, and partnerships with organizations like Trinity Foundation.

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the country’s economy is resilient enough to weather any global challenges arising from the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Speaking during a visit by members of The Buhari Organisation, led by former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, Tinubu revealed that Nigeria had already surpassed its 2024 revenue target — and did so months ahead of schedule.

“We achieved our revenue goals by August. Our non-oil revenue is performing strongly, and that gives us confidence. We’re not worried about whatever President Trump is doing across the ocean,” Tinubu said.

He emphasized that his administration has stabilized the economy and significantly reduced dependence on oil revenues, making Nigeria less vulnerable to international shocks.

President Trump’s economic measures including tariffs and oil market interventions have drawn criticism globally.

In April, he signed an executive order suspending duty-free treatment for several countries, including Nigeria, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

He also introduced a 14% tariff on Nigerian imports.

In July, under pressure from Trump, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies agreed to raise oil production by 548,000 barrels per day to bring down global oil prices.

Despite these developments, Tinubu maintained that Nigeria’s shift towards non-oil revenue streams has paid off.

According to 2023 data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Nigeria exported goods worth $6.29 billion to the U.S Crude oil accounted for $4.73 billion, petroleum gas for $920 million, and nitrogen-based fertilizers for $167 million.

A new nationwide survey by Chatham House, conducted in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has revealed a steep decline in public trust in key Nigerian institutions.

According to the report, the Nigeria Police Force, the Presidency, and the federal government rank among the least trusted bodies in the country.

The findings, published under the Social Norms and Accountable Governance Project, show that nearly 46% of Nigerians said they “greatly distrust” the police, while only 7% expressed strong trust in the institution.

The Presidency fared only slightly better, with 36% of respondents expressing deep distrust, and 35% saying the same of the federal government.

Other public bodies, including the judiciary, local government councils, and state-level politicians, also scored low in public confidence, highlighting a broad and systemic trust crisis across Nigeria’s governance structure.

Chatham House linked the widespread distrust to years of ineffective reform efforts. Despite more than two decades of anti-corruption campaigns, many Nigerians believe these measures have failed to produce meaningful accountability.

The report pointed to entrenched political patronage, impunity, and selective justice as key factors eroding trust in public institutions.

“Corruption has not only weakened Nigeria’s economy but corroded public trust in governance, fuelling repeated crises of legitimacy,” the report said.

The survey also revealed a contradiction in public values.

While 59% of respondents agreed that in their communities, “power matters more than honesty,” a larger percentage—73%—said they feel disturbed when people are exploited.

Researchers interpret this paradox as a reflection of harsh economic and social conditions that force individuals to prioritize survival, even while maintaining a desire for justice and fairness.

Despite the pessimism, the report highlighted some positive signs.

Nearly half of the respondents believe their local communities are willing to monitor public spending on development projects. According to Chatham House, this shows a strong civic potential that can be harnessed to drive citizen-led accountability.

To rebuild trust, the report recommends that political leaders provide visible evidence of how tax revenues are used to deliver public services.

It also warns that the government’s efforts to expand its tax base may fail unless citizens believe their contributions are being put to good use.

“Nigeria is faced with a fundamental question: how to reduce the cost of being honest in a system where corruption is entrenched and formal institutions are widely distrusted,” the report concluded.