Migration
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, June 11, 2018 (NAN) Dr Anthony Uwa, National Coordinator, Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN), says the programme is a viable instrument for monitoring and control of migration in the country.
Uwa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that data generated by the programme helped in ascertaining location of every individual in the country, thereby making monitoring and control of movement possible.
BRISIN is Federal Government’s integrated system for the collection, storage and distribution of information to support the management of the economy.
It is targeted at tapping into all aspects of the nation’s economy and bringing developmental and economic growth to the country through the use of data on people and other relevant information.
“Why the world is interested in BRISIN is because of migration; BRISIN gives you clear picture of how to make things easy, even for the country of migration and even where the emigrant goes to.
“They may find it difficult to identify even the citizens, but with BRISIN, they will know the age, everything about them and where to move to.
“It will help the country to plan for ways of integrating those people they are receiving from other countries into labour force.’’
Uwa also said that BRISIN had potential to generate lots of jobs, and that Nigerians would find it difficult to move to any country if they had jobs at home.
He said that with the programme in place, it would be easy for foreign organisations to help the country as information on citizens and every sector of the economy would be available.
“It becomes using one stone to kill so many birds for both Nigerians and international organisations as funding will come for migration matters through grants,’’ he said.
Uwa said that data governance in Africa had been long ignored by the developed countries and that the consequences were now hitting hard on migration syndrome.
“Nigeria has been in the forefront of African sub-Saharan migration accounting for almost 40 per cent of emigrants from the region.
“Corruption and other security issues have kept the country under crisis for many years, coupled with distorted planning and management.
“Nigeria as we know is the most populated country in Africa with enormous mineral resources ranging from crude oil to Uranium, yet its citizens emigrate en masse looking for livelihood,’’ he said.
Uwa recalled that BRISIN was introduced to correct demography and accurate population census, correct Identification of persons and verifiable documentations and enhance good planning and management of the economy.
He said it was introduced to address welfare and social services to citizens, including people with disability, measuring instrument for even distribution of wealth and rural development and for economic monitoring and control.
In addition, he said it would enhance good fiscal policies with adequate revenue generation and help investment clarifications with vision on business opportunities and market.
“It was thought that President Muhammadu Buhari with his change mantra could not have waited for so long before implementing BRISIN, but its better late than never.
“The programme is also a window for addressing social welfare issues with special attention on persons with disability.
“This is to give Nigeria and Africa a new directive in reducing poverty and corruption.
“It is also to allow the world recognise the huge investment possibilities and create job opportunities that will reduce emigration of her citizens,’’ he said.
According to Uwa, BRISIN is an all-encompassing platform built as strong fundamentals for an integrated data and information infrastructure as foundation for development
“Nigeria will use this instrument to define the governability of the nation and fight social vices, including correct planning and budgeting, fight corruption, terrorism and other challenges.
“The migration syndrome which is a major problem in the world today can only be monitored and controlled from country of origin by the implementation of platforms like BRISIN.
“The programme is viewed as the only solution for better governance; therefore, Nigeria cannot be all negativity, but a rather collective responsibility of change strongly wanted by all Nigerians and mostly, the present administration,’’ he said.
The coordinator called on well-meaning Nigerians and the international community who believed in credible solution on migration to show concern and help Nigeria to achieve objective of the programme.
He also called on Nigerians in Diaspora, “historic blacks’’ all over the world to contribute financially towards the success of BRISIN in Nigeria. (NAN)
CIA/OPI
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