Nigeria Reaffirms Partnership With IOM To End Irregular Migration
By Zubairu Mohammed, Abuja
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment with International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to continue to address the issue of irregular migration.
The Nigerian Charge’ d’Affaires of the Nigeria Mission in Libya, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed stated this in his reaction, Tuesday ,to the repatriation of 164 Nigerian irregular Migrants from Libya.
Speaking, following the exercise undertaken by the Nigerian Embassy in Tripoli, Libya,in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration and the Libyan authorities, Amb.Mohammed informed that the detainees were from Libyan detention centres and were earlier arrested on various offences, including illegal entry, overstay and lack of proper documents, among others.
He advised them and other Nigerians to avoid irregular migrations through perilous journeys across the desert and the Mediterranean Sea to Europe looking for greener posture that may not even be there and ending up in exploitation.
“Life may appear rosy on the other side, but we must understand that not all that glitters is gold, as the saying goes and do not listen to anyone making you promises of a job or even a better life elsewhere by offering to take you to Europe across the desert or the Mediterranean Sea. Count the costs of such an adventure before falling for it. Many lives have been wasted through such simple promises,” Ambassador Mohammed emphasised.
The exercise was conducted by the Embassy with the co-operation of the Libyan Government and the IOM in Libya as part of the organisation’s Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) programme, which is aimed at providing a lifesaving, dignified and expedited return of migrants to their home nations.
The current exercise is the 10th carried out by the Nigerian Embassy in Libya this year.
The repatriated detainees, comprising thirty-eight men, one hundred and twenty women as well as four children and Two infants,arrived in Lagos via a chartered flight on Tuesday.
Jide Ibitoye.
