JAPA: Dabiri-Erewa Urges Stakeholders to Promote Regular Migration
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has urged intensified efforts to strengthen regular migration channels as a strategy for enhancing labour mobility and curbing the increasing trend of irregular migration, popularly dubbed “Japa”.
Speaking during her keynote address and a panel discussion at the ongoing Rabat Process Thematic Meeting in Abuja.
The event, themed “Youth, Education and Innovation: Driving the Future of Migration,” Dabiri-Erewa emphasized the importance of public sensitisation on legal migration options.
She noted that well-informed migration practices would help mitigate the risks associated with unsafe and illegal migration routes.
“As a government, we must consolidate our efforts in educating and sensitising the public about legitimate opportunities available in the migration space,” she stated.
“This is key to combatting irregular migration and safeguarding the lives and dignity of our people.”
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The Rabat Process, also known as the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development, is a collaborative platform involving European and African countries aimed at promoting balanced migration policies. Nigeria currently holds the chairmanship of the Process.
A statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun
Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM, Abuja said Dabiri-Erewa also highlighted the critical role of Nigeria’s Diaspora population in national development.
Citing recent data, she disclosed that over 20 million Nigerians living abroad contributed around $20 billion in remittances last year—equivalent to 5.7% of Nigeria’s GDP and nearly eleven times the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow for the same period.
“These figures underscore the Diaspora as an economic force that must not be overlooked,” she said.
Focusing on youth engagement, Dabiri-Erewa advocated for their inclusion in migration-related policy formulation and execution.
“The energy, skills, and innovation of young people are essential to shaping sustainable migration systems,” she asserted, adding that NiDCOM has launched several diaspora youth programmes under its “Home Strings” initiative.
The conference, which convenes policymakers, civil society groups, and migration experts, continues this week in Abuja, with a focus on education and innovation as drivers of orderly migration.
By PRNigeria
