The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has emphasized the need to protect Nigerians, especially the youth, from exploitation by illegal recruiters.
She stressed that migration should be a matter of choice and not a necessity driven by economic hardship or deception.
Speaking at a press briefing organized by the Association of Recruiter License Placement Agencies of Nigeria (ARLPAN) in Lagos, Dabiri-Erewa, represented by Mr. Oladele Ogunkanbi, a NiDCOM official, described irregular migration as a national concern that requires urgent collaboration between public and private institutions.
She commended ARLPAN for its efforts in promoting safe migration and reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to working with relevant agencies to create legal and secure migration pathways.
“The rise in irregular migration is alarming. We must work together to address its root causes and dismantle the networks of illegal recruiters who prey on desperate Nigerians,” she stated.
The President of ARLPAN, Mr. Rex Bamidele Jacob, also spoke on the devastating consequences of irregular migration, attributing it to economic hardship, misinformation, human rights violations, and deceptive promises made by unauthorized recruiters.
He lamented that many Nigerians have been tricked into modern slavery, human trafficking, and criminal activities abroad due to the unethical actions of these illegal recruiters.
“Many Nigerians who fall victim to these recruiters end up imprisoned for possessing false immigration documents, while others are abandoned, stranded, or even killed,” Jacob stated.
He called on government agencies and civil society to take decisive action against unlicensed recruiters fueling the migration crisis.
He warned that if nothing is done, more Nigerians will continue to fall victim to these schemes, and the consequences for the country will be severe.
Jacob also urged the media to amplify discussions on irregular migration and its dangers, emphasizing its far-reaching impact on individuals and the nation.
He stressed the need for strict enforcement of migration laws, stronger international cooperation, better border management, and widespread public sensitization to educate Nigerians on the risks of irregular migration.
As the push for safe migration intensifies, stakeholders are calling for greater accountability and proactive measures to ensure Nigerians are not lured into life-threatening situations under false promises of a better life abroad.
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