Buhari hails Germany, Italy, France for welcoming irregular migrants

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has commended European countries of Germany, Italy and France which he observed are welcoming illegal migrants as he noted that irregular migration entails huge avoidable loss of human lives, puts strains on services in host countries and communities, and fuels anti-immigrant and racist sentiments in Europe.

The president gave the commendation while delivering Nigeria’s position in the ongoing 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday.

He attributed the irregular migration to current conflicts around the world and therefore expressed delight at the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the first-ever Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

President Buhari also noted the impact of climate change on migration particularly around the Lake Chad region as he called on the international communities to join in the effort at the recovery of the lake.

He said: “A topical consequence of the current conflicts around the world is the irregular migration of affected people from the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Africa to Europe.

“Irregular migration entails huge avoidable loss of human lives, puts strains on services in host countries and communities, and fuels anti- immigrant and racist sentiments in Europe.

“That is why we welcome the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the first-ever Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and we look forward to its adoption in Marrakech later this year. The aim is to protect the rights of migrants worldwide while addressing the concerns of countries of ‘origin’, ‘transit’, or ‘destination’ alike.

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“Migration is a constant in human affairs. We in Africa are grateful to countries who treat migrants with compassion and humanity-notably Germany, Italy and France.

“Irregular migration is not a consequence of conflicts alone, but of the effects of climate change and lack of opportunities at home. Climate Change remains one of the greatest challenges of our time. Very close to us at home, it is our lot in Nigeria, together with our neighbours around the Chad Basin, to live with the Climate change consequences of a drastically shrunk Lake Chad and the parching up of otherwise fertile arable lands.

“The Lake was a major source of livelihood to more than 45 million inhabitants of the region. Its shrinking meant the loss of livelihoods and they are now rendered poor and vulnerable to the activities of extremists and terrorist groups.

“The instability thus caused in the sub-region intensified internal displacements leading, among other consequences, to intense economic competition especially between farmers and herdsmen.

“This is why we continue to call for a rededicated international engagement to accelerate the recovery efforts in the Lake Chad Basin to address the root causes of the conflicts in the region. What is required is continuous and robust UN cooperation with national Governments and sub-regional and regional organisations such as the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union, to enhance capacity in conflict prevention, conflict management and peacebuilding.”

On the issue of corruption, President Buhari told his fellow world leaders that the phenomenon and illicit flow of funds across national boundaries have a huge negative impact on the stability, peace, and economic prospects of millions in developing countries.

He said the United Nations must therefore address the issue.

According to him, corruption significantly deprives national governments of resources to provide meaningful livelihoods to their populations who are predominantly youths, thus giving rise to more irregular migration.

He added: “The fight against corruption, therefore, involves us all. It is in our collective interest to cooperate in tracking illicit financial flows, investigate and prosecute corrupt individuals and entities and repatriate such funds to their countries of origin.

“Fighting corruption or resolving international conflicts, crises and wars; defeating terrorism and piracy; curbing arms trafficking and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which fuel these conflicts, particularly in Africa; stemming irregular migration by addressing its root causes; and the many other global challenges we are faced with today can only be effectively addressed through multilateral cooperation and concerted action.

“The only global institutional framework we have to address these challenges is the United Nations System.

“That is why we continue to call for the strengthening of the Organisation and making it more effective by speeding up the pace of progress towards its reform, including that of its principal organ, the Security Council. The reconstitution of the Council to make it more equitable and more representative of our global community is both a political and moral imperative.”

The president insisted on the need to reconstitute the UN Security Council with expanded membership in both the permanent and non-permanent categories “in accord with prevailing international consensus and it is in our collective interest to do so. It is high time we stopped skirting around the issue and establish achievable benchmarks and timeframes for these reforms.”

Buhari further stated: “I assure you all that in this advocacy, I am only reflecting Nigeria’s deep and abiding commitment to our Organisation and its founding principles and goals.

“From the date we joined in 1960, we have contributed our quota to the fulfilment of the mandate of the UN. We have been active participants in many Security Council and African Union authorised Peace Keeping operations around the world, beginning with the Democratic Republic of Congo operations in 1960.

“Furthermore, Nigeria has always mobilised the required human and material resources to achieve set United Nations goals, including the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We are resolute in complementing the efforts and examples of the United Nations to promote gender equality and youth empowerment as necessary pillars for sustainable development.

“Without these, there can be neither enduring peace nor security. As we set and implement our national policies to achieve these goals, we, in the spirit of international solidarity, will readily cooperate with other nations seeking to achieve similar goals for their own populations to help ensure that no one is left behind.”