EU to tackle human trafficking, illegal migration in Africa with $1bn

DETERMINED to stem the hydra-headed problem of illegal migration and human trafficking in Edo state, the European Union bank has expressed willingness to increase investment in funding economic programmes in Africa to $1 billion to empower youths.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Ketil Karlsen who disclosed this Tuesday in Benin, at the lunch of Managing Migration Through Development Programmes (MMDP), Coordination Matrix praised Edo state Governor Godwin Obaseki and President Muhammadu Buhari for their efforts in tackling the scourge which has led to Nigeria dropping to sixth position in countries providing irregular migrants to Europe.

He, however, warned that the EU would not fund any state operating in isolation without involving local stakeholders.

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In his speech, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state called for a collaborative effort among stakeholders in curbing the scourge of irregular migration and human trafficking.

He said his government will create a platform for better collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders, avoid duplication of efforts and improve efficiency in migration management.

He said the state government has in the last one year, entered into collaboration with key partners which has significantly changed the narrative as regards the fight against the scourge.

“Since the lunch of Round Table Dialogue in Abuja in May this year, several partnerships had been given birth to which have contributed to the success stories,” Obaseki said.

Mr Martin Eze who represented the Minister of Foreign to Affairs, Mr Geofffery Onyeama disclosed that over 8,000 Nigerian migrants trapped in Libyan prisons have been evacuated and returned home.

Onyeama noted that more efforts needed to be made in this direction as thousands of migrants are still trapped in various Libyan migrant cells, adding the resettlement of the thousands of returnees are at the house heart of government effort.

He said: “There should be unrelenting efforts in sensitising our youths on the dangers inherent to irregular migrational all levels.

The Minister pleaded with foreign partners, especially countries in EU to smoothen their visa issuance process to make it easy eligible Nigerians who have genuine reasons to travel.

The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration, Mohammed Babatunde, was represented at the even by the Comptroller, anti-human trafficking section, Mrs Sadat Hassan.

Hassan noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki’s initiatives have resulted in a drastic reduction of cases of human trafficking.