Dabiri-Erewa to Recruiters: Nigerians’ Lives Must Be Protected from Exploitation
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said that the lives of Nigerians, especially the youth, must be protected from exploitation, while ensuring that the need to migrate is based on choice and not out of necessity.
She made this statement during a press briefing by the Association of Recruiter License Placement Agencies of Nigeria (ARLPAN), themed: “Effect and Implications of Consistent Irregular Migration,” in Lagos.
Represented by Mr. Oladele Ogunkanbi, a staff of the Commission, Dabiri-Erewa acknowledged the aptness of the theme, given the rise of the Japa phenomenon in the country.
She described the matter as a national concern in which private and public organisations must collaborate to address the root causes of irregular migration and dismantle networks of illegal recruiters.
The NiDCOM Boss commended ARLPAN for its commitment to tackling irregular migration while reaffirming NiDCOM’s dedication to working with relevant agencies to promote safe and legal migration pathways.
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The ARLPAN President, Mr. Rex Bamidele Jacob, said the themed event was organised to address the root causes of the phenomenon, which includes- economic hardship, misinformation, human rights violations, and deceptive promises by unauthorised recruiters.
Jacob noted that the unethical actions of these individuals have endangered the lives of naive Nigerians, who are either murdered, duped into trafficking and crime, or imprisoned because of false or incomplete immigration documents.
The ARLPAN President called on stakeholders to assist in ending the activities of unlicensed recruiters who, he alleged, are responsible for the upsurge in cases of irregular migration in the country.
Jacob also emphasised the urgent need for the media to widely disseminate discussions on the subject, given its impact on both migrants and the nation.
Furthermore, he outlined that enforcement of legal migration agencies, enhanced international cooperation, improved border management, strategic public sensitisation programme, as well as, balanced security concerns with humanitarian considerations, can be short and long term solutions to curb irregular migration and the activities of unlicensed recruiters.
E-signed.
*Abdur-Rahman Balogun*
*Director: Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM*
*Abuja*
