Lagos, NCFRMI to partner on human trafficking, displacement programmes

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed his administration’s readiness to partner with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to redefine the national discourse on migration and displacement, promoting a more positive and inclusive narrative for the country.

Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed this commitment on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the NCFRMI led by the Federal Commissioner/CEO, Hon. Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, to the Office of the Deputy Governor, Alausa, Ikeja, stressing that with the collaboration, the commission would be able to achieve a lot in terms of objectives

The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said that with the collaboration, the commission can change the negative narrative of the country in terms of what a very small percentage of the citizens do negatively.

“The commission can change the negative narrative of our country in terms of what a very small percentage of us do negatively, and some people who take advantage of our young people, who are unknown to them,” the governor said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, while acknowledging the importance of the commission, expressed the willingness of his administration to offer it more support, “not only to the displaced or the migrants but also to the children across the country.”

The governor, however, charged the commission on advocacy of sign language, stressing that Nigerians must be able to communicate through sign language when in distress, particularly signs on kidnapping.

According to him, such signs must be known by the general public, security agencies, airport attendants, and children, just as he also emphasised the importance of educating Nigerian youths about the realities of migrating to Europe and other Western countries, highlighting that these regions do not necessarily offer the promise of a better life.

This was just as Governor Sanwo-Olu sadly noted that the recent visa ban and all other policies put in place were to prevent Nigerian youth from indiscriminate immigration due to the wrong impression they had about Nigeria.

Earlier in his remarks, Federal Commissioner, in charge, Hon. Tijjani Aliu Ahmed, stated that the purpose of the visit was to solicit the assistance of the Lagos State Government in hosting an upcoming meeting of African and European countries, adding that the meeting, scheduled to take place in Lagos in November, aimed to address the issue of human trafficking on the continent.

Ahmed explained that the commission expected over 100 delegates from Africa and Europe to attend the meeting, and therefore, appealed to the state government for support in areas such as transportation, security, and other logistical needs.

According to him, the commission chose Lagos as the host city due to the state government’s demonstrated commitment to combating human trafficking, assuring that the agency would continue to collaborate with the state government to address this critical issue.

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