IOM advises Nigeria on tackling irregular migration
NAN-H-34
Migration
By Victor Asije
Lagos, Oct. 19, 2017(NAN) Enira Krdzalic, Chief of Mission, International
Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Nigeria, on Thursday said
that the country needed national partnerships and engagements to tackle
the challenges of irregular migration.
Krdzalic made the remark at a two-day National Consultation
on Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, Regular Migration(GCM) in Lagos.
“We have a large number of Nigerians migrating to other countries
seeking better opportunities.
“This migration is often irregular, as legal channels opportunities
are limited and could be time-consuming and bureaucratic.
“Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders need to come together to
discuss issues associated with migration while minimizing its
consequences, ” she said.
The IOM, who noted that the country’s migration challenges was yet
to be addressed in spite of ongoing Federal Government’s efforts at
enhancing regular migration.
According to her, there is an increasing number of Nigerian
young girls and women arriving in Italy alone.
Krdzalic said that the Global Compact on Migration(GCM) would be the
first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement prepared under the
auspices of the United Nations to cover all dimensions of
international migration.
“The GCM will set out a range of principles, commitments and
understanding among member-states regarding international migration.
“The GCM would make an important contribution to global governance and
enhance coordination on international migration,” she said.
Hajia Sadiya Farouq, Federal Commissioner, National Commission
for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI), said
that Nigeria was prepared to participate in the initiative.
Farouq said that GCM was an outcome of the first United Nations High
Level Summit to address the large movement of refugees and migrants.
“It is aimed at shifting the attitude to migration from that of
problematic to one of immense potential for national development and
well-being of the individual migrant.
“Nigeria joins this global consultative initiative these two days to
generate a common position that will inform Nigeria’s participation.
“Nigeria shares in the global migration dynamics and plays a
significant role at the different levels of in migration discourse,
“she said.
The two-day event is organised by NCRMI, IOM, United Nations High
Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation, and the European Union (EU). (NAN)
AVU/WOJ
(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)