The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has called for critical actions on the dangers associated with irregular migration to discourage vulnerable Nigerians, especially the youths from undue ‘japa’ syndrome.
The CSN made the call at a Migration and Countering Trafficking In Person forum organised by the Migrants and Refugees Unit, Department of Church and Society of the CSN; Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), USAID and Palladium yesterday in Abuja.
The Head of the unit, Rev. Fr Augustine Akhogba, said the crisis of irregular migration is an unusual situation that also demand serious action and legal means to address.
He noted that most of the victims of irregular and dangerous migration and human trafficking, were not aware of the dangers of their actions, thus the need for more forceful and sustained awareness on the matter.
The event to mark this year’s International Migrants’ Day, with the theme, ‘Honouring the Contributions of Migrants and Respecting their Rights -Understanding the Dynamics of Human Trafficking’.
Also, the Program Manager, JDPC, Mr Timothy Ejeh, said the forum was to educate youths to follow right channel while seeking greener pastures, even if there is any need for them to seek greener pastures abroad.
On her part, the Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof Fatima Waziri, represented by the agency’s Intelligence Officer, Mr Malachy Ekete, decried the level at which many africans abroad without proper documentation were being exploited.
He said that there is a thin line between migration and trafficking in persons which is exploitation.
Ekete who said that NAPTIP has been fighting trafficking in persons though policies, sensitisation, advocacy among others, lamented that traffickers has continued to change tactics, urging Nigerians to be vigilant and report suspected cases of trafficking in persons.
Speaking earlier, the Secretary General, CSN, Rev. Fr Zaccharia Zamjumi stressed the need for the government to take advantage of skills and knowledge of migrants to address brain drain in the country.
He, however, said that if migrants are given opportunities by host communities, they would bring their knowledge, skills and expertise to the development of the area.
“We believe that we should do everything possible to facilitate the well being and the rights of migrants.
“First of all, it is by accepting them into the community, do not only look at the way infrastructure and other things will be stretched, it is actually an opportunity to grow and develop more.
“So if states and local governments will see to this, they will create the enabling environment to harvest the knowledge that comes from these people and their skills these people offer,” Zamjumi said.
In his keynote, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, warned against illegal and irregular migration as it attracts troubles.
He said that there is nothing wrong with migration in itself as it is an attribute of every mammal but must be done in line with due process.
“If you embark on illegal migration, you automatically become a criminal and you are no longer protected by the universal human rights that you are entitled to as a human being,” Uhomoibhi said.
Other experts and panelists at the forum urged Nigerians to look before they leap in their quest for greener pastures but to use the resources they intend to use for migration explore opportunities abound in the country.
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