FG, IOM secure return of 21,000 Nigerian migrants

The International Organisation Migration (IOM), in conjunction with the Federal Government, on Wednesday, said it had facilitated the voluntary return of over 21,000 Nigerians stranded in Libya, Niger, Mali, Europe and other countries.

Head of Benin Sub-office of IOM, Wintana Tarekegn, who disclosed this during a town hall meeting on Safe Migration, held in Benin City, noted that the body had implemented several awareness-raising interventions in the country with other organisations.

“IOM in conjunction with the Federal Government of Nigeria has facilitated the voluntary return of over 21,000 Nigerians migrants stranded abroad in Libya, Niger, Mali, European countries and other transits and destinations countries,” she said.

“The IOM, the United Nations, (UN) Migration Agency, is currently implementing several awareness-raising interventions in Nigeria including Migrants as Messengers (MaM) designed to create positive behavioural change among potential migrants and their families and friends to make safe and informed migration-related decisions and promote the positive impact returning migrants bring to their home communities,” Tarekegn added.

She reiterated that the town hall meeting was to establish ways on how to integrate migration discussions in schools to bring about increased knowledge and awareness on the risk of irregular migration, human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants.

Speaking on the “Integrating Migration Discussions in Schools Through Peer-to-Peer-Approach,” Mr Elijah Elaigwu, Project Assistant, Migration Management/Awareness Raising, said the IOM found out from their research that, most students from various schools didn’t know much about irregular migration and thus decided to take the messages to their doorsteps at schools.

He said with the knowledge of the dangers inherent in irregular migrations, it would help them form the right decision and avoid the pitfall.

Mr Elaigwu said that the IOM had trained 43 volunteers in Edo, Lagos and Delta States with the aim of discouraging the act of irregular migration in the country.

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FG, IOM secure return of 21,000 Nigerian migrants