NAN-H-69
Migration
By Lizzy Okoji
Abuja, Feb. 1, 2017 (NAN) The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) on Thursday in Abuja met with stakeholders to brainstorm on developing the 2018 Action Plan to combat illegal migration in Nigeria.
Hajiya Saiya Farouq, the Federal Commissioner said the Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting was organised for stakeholders to finalise reports that would serve as a roadmap to developing a National Action plan.
Farouq said reports from the thematic groups on activities carried out during the last quarter of 2017 would also be shared to draw up priority areas of interventions in 2018.
She described 2017 as an eventful year which witnessed an unprecedented shift in migration discourse worldwide.
“2017 saw the commencement of the process of developing the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) document that will guide how the International Community and Member States respond to issues that affect migrants.
“On or part, Nigeria came up with a common position for the GCM and participated in thematic and regional consultations.
“Nigeria will also participate in the inter-governmental negotiation that will take place from February to July and finally, the adoption of the compact in September.
“Nigeria in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and other stakeholders have begun the process of returning stranded Nigerians in Libya, following the global outcry.
“The presidential directive to repatriate Nigerians in Libya followed the outcry on the inhumane treatment and abominable slave trade of African migrants in Libya,’’ Farouq said.
According to her, the process of return and rehabilitation of Nigerian migrants is ongoing and success will be achieved through collaborative efforts of members of the TWG and other stakeholders.
Also speaking, Mr Fabrice Fretz, the Regional Advisor, Migration and Development of the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) commended the NCFRMI on how well it had handled the menace of illegal migration so far.
He said migration was a factor for development if managed properly and the SDC was more interested in promoting safe and regular migration than just combating irregular migration.
“The Swiss Development and Cooperation has solid interest and partnership with the NCFRMI since 2014.
“We have seen how over the years NCFRMI has gained experience and professionalism in its coordinating role by strengthening the migration management architecture in Nigeria.
“We are proud to have supported the National Migration Dialogue and we are convinced that such events contribute very much in putting the nexus of migration and development on the raider of authorities,’’ Fretz said.
Amb. Martin Uhomoibi, the President, Pan African Institute of Global Affairs and Strategy (PAIGAS) said illegal migration was an issue on the front burner of international discourse.
Fretz said migration was not bad but illegal migration posed serious threats, especially to the youths who embarked on dangerous and suicidal journeys across the Mediterranean and Sahara Desert to Europe.
He urged youths to focus on developing themselves in their home countries rather than embark on illegal journeys to countries where they would only be seen as criminals entering illegally.
He said the Nigeria-Swiss partnership on migration, which he was privileged to be part of its formation, was a unique partnership that had developed a lot of good policies to curb illegal migration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the TWG is held every quarter and is being organised by the NCFRMI in support of the SDC within the framework of the Nigeria-Swiss partnership on Migration. (NAN)
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Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Grace Yussuf