According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 1.3 million Nigerians worldwide face irregular migration problems. The UN Migration Panel also said a higher number were internally displaced persons.
IOM’s deputy director for operations, Mrs Ugochi Daniels, announced this in Abuja when the IOM’s Nigeria Country Strategy was unveiled.
Daniels said that the Five-Year Strategic Plan (2023-2027) for Nigeria aims to work with government and national stakeholders to improve immigration policy and reap the benefits of immigration in the country.
Daniels explained that the strategy outlines a set of goals built around three strategic pillars governance, mobility and resilience.
She said through these pillars, IOM seeks to support Nigeria in managing migration priorities and reforming movement governance, ensuring safe and dignified mobility pathways for migrants, addressing human trafficking and forecasting migration drivers for safer, more regular and orderly migration movements.
The IOM official pointed out that irregular migration presents a lot of challenges while acknowledging on the other hand that regular migration presents numerous opportunities for the socio-economic development of the country.
She called for the support of critical stakeholders for the successful implementation of the strategy in Nigeria. Mr Laurent De Boeck, Chief of IOM Nigeria, explained that the three strategic pillars of the document include:
resilience, mobility and governance.
He said the strategy will enhance the protection of migrants, IDPs and communities. This is because it will address vulnerabilities and reinforce capacities to implement sustainable solutions.
“It will optimise benefits of labour mobility for Africa integration as well as foster evidence-based processes to enhance government capacities to integrate migration policies and practices.”
cc: Daily Trust Ng
