Stakeholders Advocate Enforcement Of Laws On Migration 

By Florence Adewale

The need for concerted efforts for enforcement of existing policies and laws related to migration in the country has been advocated.

Some Stakeholders made the call in Abuja during a National Workshop on Migration.

According to the stakeholders, the Nigerian government has formulated several policies related to migration, but their effectiveness relies heavily on implementation, hence concrete steps needed to be taken to ensure that the policies are effectively enforced at all levels, leaving no room for gaps or weaknesses.

One of the Stakeholders and Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Caroline Adepoju, represented by Mrs Ngozi Odikpo who said migration occurs for various reasons, among which is search for greener pastures stressed that if Nigerians must migrate it should be done lawfully explaining that many lives had been lost due to irregular migration but the challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria.

Also speaking, Representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Commandant Grace Ukpong said the Nigeria Navy would not relent at ensuring that the shores of the nation are safeguarded against hoodlums in the name of migration.

Earlier the convener of the workshop, Dr. Williams Ijeoma stated that collaborative efforts are needed towards addressing the root causes of migration which according to him includes Economic disparities, political conflicts, environmental degradation among others .

Dr. Ijeoma who is also the president Global Migration Research Institute, explained further that, “The Nigerian government should invest in strengthening data collection and encourage research institutions to contribute towards a robust knowledge base on migration”.

He stressed that “Migration is a complex and multifaceted challenge that demands collective efforts, innovative solutions, and sustained commitment.

“While we commend the Nigerian government and concerned agencies for their initiatives thus far, we urge them to do more. We must prioritize policy implementation, international cooperation, addressing root causes, and investing in education and skills development. Together, let us forge a path towards sustainable growth, social progress, and a brighter future for all”.

The theme of the workshop is “Tackling Migration Diverse Problems for Sustainable Growth and Social Progress.

Edited By Grace Namiji