Nigeria is on the brink of nurturing a N50 billion shadow fraud economy as fake visa agents and unlicensed migration consultants exploit the desperation of citizens caught in the “japa” rush, experts have warned. According to them, with no licensing framework to regulate migration services in the country, fraudsters are turning mass emigration into a black market enterprise that has left victims bankrupt, stranded, and psychologically broken.
An investigation by NATIONAL ECONOMY reveals a disturbing rise in fraudulent travel schemes. Unregistered agents posing as relocation experts promise work permits, study visas, or residency packages in Europe and North America often charging millions upfront only to disappear or hand victims forged documents that collapse at foreign airports.
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) confirmed the crisis, estimating that 3.68 million Nigerians left between 2022 and September 2023 alone. Afrobarometer reports that 56 per cent of Nigerians have considered emigrating, up from 36 per cent in 2017, while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded a record 260,000 seeking legal migration help in 2023.
For many, hopes have ended in disaster. Amaka, a 29-year-old graduate, sold her car and paid N3.8 million to an agent who promised her a Canadian study visa. “The admission letter was forged. By the time I found out, he has disappeared,” she said. Tunde Alabi, an IT consultant in Lagos, lost N2.5 million chasing a supposed job in Poland. “The employment letter looked real. Only when I tried to verify it abroad did I realise it was fake. I feel ashamed, but I also know I am not the only one.”
The scams feed on economic despair. “The demand is huge, and that has opened the door for scammers,” said Chioba Obasi, a Lagos-based travel consultant. “Unsuspecting people don’t ask enough questions or verify documents before paying.”
Authorities acknowledge the explosion. EFCC said petitions on travel and visa scams jumped 48 per cent in early 2025, compared to last year, the sharpest spike on record. Interpol Nigeria estimates Nigerians lost at least $60 million to migration scams between 2020 and 2024, though the true figure may be much higher.
Scammers quickly adapt to global trends. In 2021, fake UK caregiver visas flourished. By 2023, counterfeit Canadian and Australian admission letters were widespread. In 2024, EFCC logged record complaints tied to forged European tech job offers. Now in 2025, fraudsters are aggressively selling fake packages linked to Germany’s skilled-worker programme and Canada’s resettlement schemes, heavily promoted on WhatsApp and Instagram.
The human cost is mounting. Grace A., a Lagos nurse, said she lost N4.5 million for a UK caregiver role backed by falsified NHS papers and a staged embassy appointment. In Abuja, a young tech graduate sold family land to pay N7 million for a fake Canadian relocation programme. “Now the office is gone, the numbers don’t connect, and I have nothing left,” he said. Psychologists in Lagos report rising cases of depression linked to migration fraud.
The fraud is organised and sophisticated. Syndicates rent offices in upscale districts, employ receptionists, create glossy banners, and bleed victims through staged “application fees,” “embassy slots,” and “medical clearances.” Many run slick social media campaigns featuring doctored visas and fabricated testimonials, while others extend operations into Ghana, Turkey, and Dubai.
But enforcement lags. “Many of these agencies are not licensed,” said immigration strategist Joseph Dangana. “Before engaging anyone, Nigerians should verify through NIS’ official registry. We’ve seen people land abroad only to be deported instantly for travelling with forged papers,” An EFCC official added, “We have arrested several operators of fake agencies in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. Unfortunately, victims rarely come forward until it’s too late.”
Analysts warned the regulatory vacuum is dangerous. “Every new immigration policy overseas creates a new scam here,” said Emmanuel Okorie, a migration researcher in Abuja. “It’s a dangerous spiral: young professionals desperate to leave, syndicates adapting overnight, and regulators unable to keep up.
Consumer rights advocates stressed the damage goes beyond money. “This is not just a crime; it has psychological and social consequences,” said human rights advocate Love Adichie. “People lose their savings, their trust, and sometimes their lives in the process. Government must regulate migration services more stringently to protect citizens.”
Families, too, are being torn apart. Stella Okiemute, a retired teacher, said she lost her pension savings after her son was duped. “We thought it was an investment in his future. Now we are back to square one, and I feel betrayed.”
Economists argued that without tackling unemployment and insecurity, the ‘japa’ wave will keep fueling scams. “As legitimate agencies operate alongside fraudulent ones, vigilance is the only safeguard,” said Dr. Felix Echekoba, a financial economist at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
With Nigerians securing more than 65,000 UK student visas and 15,000 Canadian study permits in 2024, demand for migration remains insatiable. But without decisive regulation, 2025 could become the country’s most costly year yet, marked by shattered families, drained savings, and a booming parallel fraud economy worth tens of billions of naira.
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