The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has advised Nigerians who want to relocate overseas to follow legal procedures.
The advice was given by Adepoju Wuraola, Acting Comptroller General of the NIS, while launching the “2023 Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Nationwide Sensitization and Enlightenment Campaign” at the Service headquarters in Abuja to commemorate the NIS’s 60th anniversary.
According to the acting CG, it was important to educate Nigerians about the dangers of irregular migration because the country was losing too many young people through the illicit pathways.
“The Nigerian government is opposed to migrant smuggling and human trafficking, and we know that education and sensitization are effective methods of prevention.”
“We do not want to continue losing youths to the perilous trans-Sahara route and the perilous Mediterranean Sea in their search for greener pasture.”
“We understand that many people wish to travel overseas in search of greener pastures. It’s not horrible, but these journeys must be safe, orderly, and frequent.
“We implore the public to join us in doing everything possible to raise awareness among our youth that there is hope in this country.” There is no limit to what you may do in this country if you are willing to work hard.”
Kemi Nandap, the Acting Deputy Comptroller General in charge of the Directorate of Migration, also spoke out, lamenting the deaths of many Nigerian youngsters while attempting to seek brighter pastures overseas via illegal ways.
According to figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 1200 Nigerians died while attempting to migrate over the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean Sea in 2023 alone.
“We have a big problem in this country, and that is the issue of ‘Japa syndrome,” Nandap added. So many of our young people are dying in the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea. They are dying for no apparent reason.”
She urged Nigerians who want to ‘Japa’ to contact the migration desk at any of the NIS state commands for the requisite information.Nigerians
