The Inspector of Factories at the Migrants Resource Centre (MRC), a department under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Iyanuoluwa Fisher, has urged intending migrants to follow proper procedures when travelling abroad, warning that irregular migration exposes individuals to serious risks, including kidnapping and death.
She made the appeal during a three-day Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programme held at the Skill Acquisition Centre of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment office in Sabo-Yaba, Lagos State.
The programme was organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the MRC, with the theme ‘Life Skills’.
According to her, “Migration is your right, but people should do it in the right way.” Whoever wants to travel must please make sure you get the necessary authorisations and documentation. Follow the right process; do not follow the desert, because we usually hear lots of sad stories where people drink their own urine in the desert and feed on food meant for animals, and some die during the process. If you must migrate, do it in the right way, as our slogan at the MRC says, ‘Do it the right way.'”
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Fisher further advised migrants to visit the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment for guidance and safer migration options.
She also encouraged returned migrants not to lose hope but to rebuild their lives, noting that many of them are now actively creating awareness across Nigeria on the need to migrate through proper channels.
She stressed the importance of the MHPSS programme, explaining that it was designed to support the reintegration of returnees into society.
“The programme was basically for returned migrants to assist them to integrate back into society. Some of the returnees were depressed and faced lots of stress, but the training will help them to build life skills, build their businesses and communities, build effective communication and use their reflection of their experiences on what they had gone through in life to teach how they can be positive in their lives.
“Mental health is a state of complete well-being, so the training was a place where the returned migrants can relax, feel stable and have hope again that there is a second chance for them,” she stated.
In the same vein, one of the returnees, Big Keji, popularly known as Moimoi, shared her experience and advised intending migrants to use the right channels.
“I thanked God for my life because I worked and paid money to my sponsor, and later I was arrested in Liberia. I did not achieve anything before coming back to Nigeria,” she said.
She further advised migrants to inform the police and IOM officials whenever they are approached to travel through irregular means.
Another participant, Favour James, said the training exposed her to life and employability skills, including problem management, resilience and self-improvement, which she believes will help her become a better person.