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Nigerian youths have been urged to abstain from any form of irregular migration which often leads to loss of lives.
The call was made by Chairman of a youth based group, the Youth Enlightenment Empowerment and Self Sustainability Initiative (YEESSI), Mr. Kazeem Ojoye at a function to sensitise youths against irregular migration at Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Over the years, youths from the sub-Saharan African countries in search of greener pastures in Europe have engaged in life threatening migrations especially through the Sahara desert to link Europe. At the well attended event which took place at the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Apata, Ibadan last Wednesday, youths were encouraged to employ due process while planning to migrate.
The event with the theme, Fight Against Irregular Migration to Europe (FAIME), was a well attended one having youths from Oyo State and environs in attendance.
Chairman of YEESSI, Mr. Kazeem Ojoye said, seeking for greener pasture in Europe has been the major reason for youths to ‘escape’ from Nigeria during which quite a lot of them would do just about anything to travel.
He however enjoined the youths to observe relevant protocols while planning to leave the country in order to migrate legally and avoid troubles with immigration officials in countries along their route.
Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration in Oyo State, Mr. Akinniran Akinlade at the event provided information to educate the participants on migrating to Europe legally.
“If you must travel to Europe or any other country, ensure you are certified by having the necessary requirements and documents which entails International Passport, Visa, Yellow Card etc.”
According to Akinlade, having these documents would make traveling abroad legal without having any issue as far as traveling is concerned.
Also at the event, a Nigerian relayed her ordeal while traveling without authorisation.
Mercy Akinkuowo in her testimony said she saw hell on her way to Italy. According to her, she eventually couldn’t get to her destination before reporting herself to the Nigerian embassy in Libya from where she was eventually deported.
“It was only God that saved me, I was imprisoned in Libya when caught. I was sold out as slave and many f those whom we embarked on the journey together lost their lives in the desert,” she relayed.
The event was held in conjunction with the German chapter of the Nigerian in Diaspora (NIDO) and myriads of issues relating to migration were addressed.
In attendance were officials from National Agency for the Prohibitation of Trafficking (NAPTIP), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies.
