Manchester, United Kingdom – E be like say the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) don set correct example as dem stop 294 Nigerians wey wan japa from the country without valid travel documents. This na serious matter oh! Na during one stakeholders’ seminar for Abuja, Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, take run the gist.
Di seminar wey get theme “Evolving Patterns in Smuggling of Migrants: Towards a Coordinated National Response” no be play play matter. Na serious work dem dey do. Nandap talk say dem also deny entry to 332 undocumented migrants wey wan enter Nigeria for Seme border. Chai, na wetin dem dey look for sef?
According to her, e no just dey stop there; NIS also rescue 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour. Na because of new CCTV wey dem install for Seme border. E be like say di cameras dey sharp pass dem wey dey use dem.
Nandap express her worry about how Nigerians dey run abroad because dem believe say life for outside dey sweeter – a trend wey dem dey call ‘Japa’. “E dey painful to see young people dey risk their lives based on say dem dey think say the grass dey greener for another side,” Nandap talk. No be small matter, abeg!
She talk say di issue of migrant smuggling don turn into serious wahala wey involve many organised criminal networks wey dey use people wey dey look for better life. These guys dey take advantage of people wey dey desperate. E be like say na him dey cause di ‘Japa’ trend wey everybody dey talk about.
Nandap and di NIS dey work with local and international bodies to tackle this issue, from improving their legal frameworks to creating public awareness. Dem don even train 577,200 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members this year alone. Na real grassroots approach, no be am?
Dem talk say the recent attempts to boost security don show how serious di federal government dey take this migration matter. Nandap insist say Nigerian government dey serious about promoting legal migration wey go provide both protection and human dignity. She even propose make we get Anti-Smuggling Clubs wey go dey educate young Nigerians.
The seminar aim na to bring everybody together: security agencies, civil society, and even international partners to make sure say dem fit form united front against di organized criminals wey dey exploit our people. Nandap talk, “Every smuggled migrant na life wey dey put for risk, family wey dey scatter, and community wey dey lose potential. We gatz stand together!”
Though dis na serious issue, you fit see say Naija dey always find way to dance around di wahala – jesting about journey while sabi say journey fit fit plenty people into trouble. Make we just dey watch, and do our best to stay safe. E no go bad if we fit correct the system and make am better for everybody.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng

