International traveler and travel documentarian McDolly Ogundana, popularly known as The9jaboy, has urged Nigeria, Spain, the European Union, and African transit countries to intensify efforts to curb deaths along the Atlantic migration route. Ogundana made the call in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. He emphasized that the journey to Europe should not end at sea.
Ogundana's intervention was not an argument against migration, as he noted that migration had always been part of human civilization. He stressed that limited passport mobility should never mean limited dreams. With over 130 countries traveled using a Nigerian passport, Ogundana has experienced navigating visa restrictions, refusals, and complicated border requirements firsthand.
Citing figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ogundana reported that approximately 60,000 migrants and refugees had reached Europe by sea by mid-September 2026, representing a 39% decrease from the same period in 2025. However, at least 2,292 people had been recorded dead or missing during the period, compared to 1,999 in the same period the previous year.
The West African Atlantic route towards Spain's Canary Islands remains particularly dangerous, with 17,788 irregular arrivals recorded in 2025, a 62% decline from 46,843 in 2024. Despite the decline in arrivals, 54 shipwrecks were recorded on the route, resulting in 1,214 recorded deaths or disappearances. Ogundana emphasized that falling arrival numbers do not necessarily mean the humanitarian crisis is over.
A recent tragedy involving a migrant boat that departed The Gambia and was rescued near Spain's Canary Islands after spending 27 days at sea highlighted the crisis. Five deaths were confirmed, while survivors reported that as many as 83 people, including women and a baby, may have died during the journey. Ogundana noted that the tragedy occurred despite official figures showing arrivals to the Canary Islands from West Africa had fallen by more than half in 2026.
Ogundana called for a coordinated four-point response, including stronger public-awareness campaigns, expanded transparent legal labor-migration pathways, stronger intelligence and law-enforcement cooperation, and targeted investment in vocational training, entrepreneurship, and job creation. He proposed a sustained Nigeria-Spain-Africa Safe Migration Initiative, bringing together relevant governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector.
Ogundana's advocacy reflects his representation of The9jaboy, focusing on representation, inspiration, and authenticity. He aims to demonstrate that Nigerians can pursue global opportunities despite limitations associated with the Nigerian passport. Ogundana expressed his willingness to work with government agencies, international organizations, civil society, and the media to support safe-migration awareness and amplify the experiences of survivors and policy experts.
Key points
- McDolly Ogundana urges Nigeria and Europe to intensify efforts to curb deaths along the Atlantic migration route.
- The West African Atlantic route towards Spain's Canary Islands remains particularly dangerous, with 1,214 recorded deaths or disappearances in 2025.
- Ogundana proposes a sustained Nigeria-Spain-Africa Safe Migration Initiative to address the migration crisis.
