How To End Irregular Migration, By Babandede 

Concerned about the desperation of Nigerian youths to migrate abroad for greener pastures, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede has suggested ways out of the menace. He spoke in Calabar, Cross River State while delivering a paper on Exploring Regular Migration/Assisted Voluntary Returnees and Reintegration To Reshape Economy And Human Development at the Cross River State Migration Summit held on April 22, 2021.

Babandede, who was represented by the Comptroller of NIS in the state, I.C. Emenike, said the eagerness and desperation of the youths to leave the nation irrespective of the risks involved, could be curtailed through “proper monitoring, supervision and control activities of our voluntary returnees and reabsorb them into the society to balance facilitation and security through internal monitoring mechanism.” While calling for the attention of the Federal and state governments to be focused on youths friendly sectors such as ICT, Sports, entertainment, hospitality and agriculture, he advised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to step up provision for credit facilities to entrepreneurs and young school leavers.

These, he said, would enhance human capital development and reduce the attraction of greener pastures and brain drain. Emenike noted that there was a need for improved economic status and citizens’ standard of living adding: “The illiteracy level of most countries in the West Africa Sub-region is far below the United Nations Standard. For proper socio-economic and political-economic development, government at all levels must provide adequate and affordable education to her citizens.”

Governor Benedict Ayade, who has represented the Managing Director of the Cross River State Migration Control Services Agency, Prince Michael Nku Abua, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Adamu Mohammad Bulkachuwa, Senior Special Assistant to Oyo State Governor on Diaspora Matters, Bolanle Sarumi Aliyu, President, Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM), Ajibola Abayomi, Principal Special Assistant to the Benue State Governor on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Emmanuel U. Doughdough and representative of Obong of Calabar, were among those who attended the event.