The Nation Newspaper

Tag: migration

  • Time to halt the Trans-Saharan migration

    Time to halt the Trans-Saharan migration

    The world was treated to a rude shock recently when the news of the deaths of 26 Nigerian women was broken. The women, in their teens, were reportedly murdered in their attempt to cross the Mediterranean. The reports further suggested that the women, whose bodies were recovered at the sea, may have been sexually abused.

    The bodies of the   women, aged between 14-18 were reportedly kept in a refrigerated section of a Spanish warship, Cantabria, which was also carrying other 375 migrants among whom were Sub- Saharan Africans from Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, The Gambia and Sudan. Among them were 90 women – eight of them pregnant – and 52 children.

    The above incident is a microcosm of the ordeals Sub- Saharan Africans undergo in their quest to migrate to Italy and other European countries from the Trans- Saharan route in search of greener pasture. The ugly stories of the migrants are laced with violence, including torture and sexual abuse, by the gangs.

    Migration through the Sub- Saharan routes blossomed in the early 1990s and was triggered by some pressures occasioned by famines, wars, ethnic strife, economic hardship, corruption, civil unrest, among others in some parts of the world. Migrants from these countries saw this is an opportunity to escape difficult situations in their home countries.

    This adventure has proven to be a suicide mission. Just recently, 40 West Africans mainly from Ghana and Nigeria were buried along the Sahara. Every now and then, hundreds of Nigerians are brought back to this country after failed attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

    There is an urgent need to address some of the factors that have been identified to trigger this mass migration. One pertinent question that borders the mind is why would one spend between $4,000 to $6,000 in order to migrate to Europe when such money if exchanged for naira can establish a small business?

    The African Union and Economic Community of West African States should not be mere observers in this issue. They should toe the path of the European Union (EU) in checking irregular migration. The EU has adopted four pillars to address this issue. They include reducing the incentives for irregular migration, improving border control, developing a common EU asylum policy and strengthening legal migration.

    The EU also set up the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa to address the root causes of migration, finance projects that create employment opportunities, support basic services for local populations and support improvements in overall governance, as well as projects that improve migration management. addition, the EU created the European External Investment Plan ‘to promote sustainable investment in Africa and the neighbourhood and tackle some of the root causes of migration.

     

    • Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu,

    keshiafrica@gmail.com.

  • ‘Migration not only way to self-actualisation’

    ‘Migration not only way to self-actualisation’

    A German-Nigerian Journalist, Femi Awoniyi has sent a warning message to Nigerians over the dangers of illegal migration to European countries.

    Awoniyi made the declaration on Monday during a courtesy visit to The Nation Newspaper Head Office in Lagos.

    Awoniyi, who resides in Germany lamented the increasing death toll and personal tragedies that occur based on illegal migration alone. He stated that about 2500 people have died this year while crossing the Mediterranean sea.

    “Migration is an act of humanity but young people fall prey to the promises of smugglers and people who take them through the desert to Libya in a bid to cross the Mediterranean.

    “Just this year alone, 2500 people have died in numerous attempts to cross the Mediterranean or in transit countries like Libya, Chad and Northern African countries,” Awoniyi stated.

    Awoniyi, who initiated a program to enlighten Nigerians on the danger of illegal migration in Europe, encouraged Nigerians to be well informed if they ever decide to migrate.

    He warned that Migration is not the only way to self-actualisation and there are many opportunities to be considered at home before deciding to travel abroad.

  • Multichoice: regulatory framework vital for digital migration

    Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe, has said Nigeria needs  regulatory and legal framework as well as a buy-in from all stakeholders to make a successful transition from analogue switch off.

    Ugbe stated this in a keynote address delivered at the third   Digital Migration Summit, in Lagos. It was organised by Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

    While noting that the country is a late starter on the migration journey, Ugbe said it can learn from the experiences of countries that have achieved digital migration and avoid the mistakes from previous exercises.

    “Using the United Kingdom, Kenya and Rwanda as case studies, one common denominator is that they all opted to make Free-to-Air (FTA) cost-free in each country. Another key lesson learnt is that they all had adequate regulatory and legal framework in place and ensured that there was buy-in from all stakeholders. Everyone had a role to play – from making Set Top Boxes (STBs) affordable and partnering the private sector which brought in investment,” he said.

    Digitisation, he explained, will ensure better transmission quality and make more channels available.  As a result, there will be a need for compelling content.

    “It is crucial to make content as engaging as possible, otherwise we will lose our audience. Compelling content is expensive to achieve as it affects cost of equipment, production and distribution, to mention a few,” he added.

    Along with digital migration, he further explained, will come a more effective use of spectrum, with a move from one analogue channel per frequency to over 20.

    While noting that digital migration offers many benefits, Ugbe said it is also accompanied by challenges.

    “That there will be more channels also means that the already limited advertising revenue will shrink further. Additionally, segment boundaries will blur. The internet already enables anyone to create and distribute user generated content. There is tremendous diversification going on and this will continue in the foreseeable future,” he said.

    To get around the challenges, Ugbe called for light- touch regulations that will ensure lower costs for operators.

  • Our plan against youth migration, by govt

    The Federal Government has said its investment in education and infrastructure will stem the tide of youth restiveness and emigration. The government said its efforts towards improvement of infrastructure in schools and capacity building for teachers were aimed at improving the quality of education and equipping students with lucrative entrepreneurial skills.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, made this known during the handing over of  a four kilometre road constructed in the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu in Enugu State. The road was delivered through The Flood Control Project of the Presidency.

    Onyeama said Nigeria would not develop unless efforts were made to education the youth and equip them with vocational skills. He said education and skill acquisition remained the key priorities of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    He said: “For Nigeria to eradicate poverty and develop, we have to train and educate our people. We have a huge population of young below 35; this is why it is important that we provide education and create access for skill acquisition. If we fail to act, we would face serious challenges that can lead to social problems.

    “Majority of young people are living in rural areas, where poverty takes its root. Many youths are crossing the Sahara desert to Europe in search of the proverbial greener pastures. Some of them end up at the base of the Mediterranean Sea. We are prepared to reverse this ugly trend by increasing access to education and skill acquisition.”

    The minister hailed the college’s Provost, Prof Benjamin Mbah, for tackling flooding and erosion in the school, saying the government would play its part in solving the environmental challenges.

    Mr Felix Okeke, who represented the Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr Habiba Lawal, said the project was initiated at  the instance of the school which sought President Buhari’s intervention to curtail erosion and flooding on the campus.

    Prof Mbah thanked Presidency for the gesture. He appealed to the government to build two underground water storage facilities to harvest the flood water that passes through the college.

  • Migration: Fleeing from hunger to poverty

    SIR: The increasing surge of migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea from Africa and other parts of the world, mainly into Europe, has become a critical issue in not just countries where these migrants emerge, but a global threat that requires urgent global attention. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of migrants have fled their countries seeking asylum as refugees in European countries. About 90% of migrants are usually from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mexico, Iran where there are high security risks, insurgency, humanitarian crisis, war, poverty, human rights abuses, among others.

    Most Nigerians who brave the stormy seas and unfriendly deserts have lost hope in an economic system that is characterized by poor governance, poor income, unemployment, insecurity, corruption, humanitarian crisis, increasing poverty, which has led to a high surge of migration.

    Despite the risk involved, there is high patronage of human traffickers (who charge unimaginable amounts) who lure or assist migrants across borders, promising jobs, education and a better living condition. Many of them, mostly women and children are sold into prostitution, raped, child labor, child marriage and other abuses. Many victims of human trafficking never live to tell their story. They are exposed to harsh terrain, terrible inhuman conditions and denied access to proper life and their fundamental Human Rights.

    The United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs, has stated that since the past six years, a emigrants and migrants, in and out of Nigeria, has shown that a minimum difference of -60,000 leave the shores of the country yearly. Many of these migrants are sold into prostitution, child labor, and slavery to countries like Libya, Spain, and Italy. In 2016 alone, not less than 162 Nigerians were repatriated in Libya, 41 from USA, and 40 from the UK etc. Data from the EU indicate that an average of 83 Nigerians crossed illegally from Nigeria to Europe, daily, while 22,500 illegally crossed via the Mediterranean in the first nine months of 2016.

    One can safely justify that in Nigeria, there is correlation between poverty, corruption, war and migration on the other hand. To reduce the increasing surge of emigrants out of Nigeria, government must tackle the problems of poverty, unemployment, hunger, corruption, that has threatened the peoples’ rights to existence.

    Government’ determination to guarantee national security, workable policies, at all levels for its citizens will bring about sustainable economic growth and other forms of development. Government should support communities across the country, mostly in areas where irregular migration is rampant, by improving economic opportunities and empowerment initiatives to the youths. We call on all countries to address issues of humanitarian crisis, strengthen the resilience of host communities, consider the vulnerability of migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons, and implement policies that will eradicate human trafficking.

     

    • Charles Iyare,

    ANEEJ, Benin City.

  • Commonwealth backs war against refugee, migration

    The Commonwealth of Nations  has scheduled the issue of refugee and migration for discussion at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), it was learnt yesterday.

    The developemnt came on the heels of a global agreement to end the refugee and migration crisis around the world. The move has the backing of the Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland and that of the Commonwealth.

    Also at the meeting, there will be focus on the challenges of climate change on migration even as the Secretary-General will be calling on leaders to pay more attention to the needs of the youths.

    The global compact for safe, regular and orderly migration is part of the agenda for sustainable development and achieving full respect for the human rights of migrants by 2030.

    “I would like to commend this initiative of Secretary-General Ban-Ki-Moon and the UNGA President, Peter Thomson,” the Secretary-General will say. “This high-level plenary meeting is a bold response to forced displacement of populations, which has now become a global crisis that requires our collective effort as the international community.”

     

  • Group makes case for migration reporting

    The Network of Migration Research in Africa (NOMRA) has unveiled plans to establish the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) for migration reporting.

    At a workshop for media professionals on migration reportage at the Domus Fidei, Ikeja, Lagos, NOMRA coordinator, Prof. Aderanti Adepoju said the group was in deliberations with the iInternational Organisation for Migration (IOM) to facilitate the award.

    Speaking during the workshop, Prof. Adepoju said: “We have deliberations with IOM to establish an award in journalism for migration reporting. Not many people can be experts in migration reporting but there are many areas that can be linked to migration reporting. The media shape publication and it is a huge responsibility. We should go one more stage in accurate reporting.”

    Also speaking, representative of the IOM, Mr. Sunday Omoyeni said the aim of the programme was to help government to manage migration, project achievements and maximise the development potential.

    He noted that the workshop began in May last year, in collaboration with the National Commission for Migrants and Refugees to push for the implementation of the National Migration Policy, which was adopted by the Federal Executive Council in October, 2014.

    A ShowBiz reporter from Daily Independent, Mr. Tosin Clegg engaged other participants on the diversity of migration reporting in various aspects of the Nigerian society.

    He said: “When I came to the workshop in UNILAG last year, initially I didn’t see anything I could do for ShowBiz relating to migration. But after two months, I noticed a lot of things have to do with migration. Of the 36 states in Nigeria, Lagos seems to be where ShowBiz is formed and bubbles up. To an extent, a lot of people from the 36 states come to Lagos so that they can sell their music.

    “In Rivers or Kaduna states, they complain that nobody comes to listen to their music, but once you come to Lagos, they say people are willing to listen to their music. A lot of non-Nigerians from Angola, Tanzania and South Africa, all come to Nigeria to set up their music. So many issues relate to migration.”

    An education correspondent at The Nation, Kofoworola Belo-Osagie noted that education was a contributing factor to migration in the country, as many find succour in getting their certificates outside the border.

    Decrying this act, she said education outside Nigeria is not only costly but also bad for Nigerians, as it enhances flow of resources outside the country.

    “Resources needed in the country are taken outside the shores of the country by youths who relish education. Money meant to be spent in Nigeria is taken to other countries. This brings down the value system of schools in Nigeria,” Belo-Osagie said.

    Also speaking, representative of National Commission for Refugees, Migrant and Internally-Displaced Persons (NCFMI), Aisa Mohammed, urged reporters to research and write on children education in IDP camps and create awareness for youths in comparing Nigerian education with those of schools abroad.

    “This will help youths in their choice of schools and make them believe in their country. I encourage that you should write more on education on IDP camps and write articles for youths comparing Nigerian schools with those outside the country,” Mohammed said.

    Meanwhile, some reporters lamented reporters’ poor standard of living and access to funds, which hinder them from doing in-depth research.

  • NOMRA to support DAME award for migration

    The Network of Migration Research in Africa (NOMRA) has unveiled plans to establish the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) for migration reporting.

    At a workshop for media professionals on migration reportage at the Domus Fidei, Ikeja, Lagos, NOMRA coordinator, Prof Aderanti Adepoju said the group was in deliberations with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to facilitate the award.

    Speaking during the workshop, Prof Adepoju said: “We have deliberations with IOM to establish an award in journalism for migration reporting. Not many people can be experts in migration reporting but there are many areas that can be linked to migration reporting. The media shapes publication and it is a huge responsibility. We should go one more stage in accurate reporting.”

    Also speaking, representative of the IOM, Mr. Sunday Omoyeni said the aim and key achievement of the programme was to help government manage migration project achievements and maximize the development potentials.

    He noted that the workshop started in May 2015, in collaboration with the National Commission for Migrants and Refugees to push for the implementation of the National Migration Policy, which was adopted by the Federal Executive Council in October, 2014.

    Mr Tosin Clegg  said: “When I came to the workshop in Unilag in 2015, initially I didn’t see anything I could do for ShowBiz relating to Migration. But after two months, I noticed a lot of things have to do with migration. Of the 36 states in Nigeria, Lagos seems to be where ShowBiz is formed and bubbles up. To an extent, a lot of people from the 36 states come to Lagos so that they can sell their music. In Rivers or Kaduna States, they complain that nobody comes to hear your music, but once you come to Lagos, they say people are willing to hear their music. A lot of non-Nigerians from Angola, Tanzania, South Africa, all come into Nigeria to set up their music. So many issues relate to migration.”

    Head of education Desk of The Nation, Kofoworola Belo-Osagie noted that education was a contributing factor to migration in the country, as many find succor in getting their certificates outside the border.

    Decrying this act, she said education outside Nigeria is not only costly but also bad for the Nigerians, as it enhances flow of resources outside the country.

    “Resources needed in the country are carted outside the country by the teeming youths who relish the desire to be educated. Money meant to be spent in Nigeria is actually taken to other countries abroad which is extremely costly and this brings down the value system of schools in Nigeria,” Belo-Osagie said representative of National Commission for Refugees, Migrant and Internally Displaced (NCFMI), Aisa Mohammed, urged reporters to research and write on children education in IDP Camps and create awareness for youths in comparing Nigerian education with that of schools abroad.

    “This will help youths in their choice of schools and make them believe in their country. I encourage that you should write more on education on IDPs CAMPS and write articles for youths comparing Nigerian schools with those outside the country”, Mohammed said.

    Meanwhile, some reporters lamented reporters’ poor standard of living and access to funds, which hinders them from doing in-depth research.

  • Stakeholders advocate flexible migration laws

    Stakeholders advocate flexible migration laws

    Mindful of the strategic position of Lagos as economic capital of West Africa, experts and researchers have called for softer migration laws in Lagos State and other parts of Africa that are experiencing serious immigration challenges.

    For four days, stakeholders in immigration issues converged on Ota, Ogun State for the 2015 conference of the West Africa Migration Development and Regional Integration (MIGDEVRI) programme which held at Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State. They urged governments across the continent to comply with stipulated protocols of free movement of persons, right of establishment and residency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). National Coordinator of the programme, Dr Oluyemi Fayomi urged the Nigerian government to strengthen all necessary institutions to comply with the ECOWAS protocols to curb bottlenecks posed by security agents, including Customs and Immigration officers, among others when people are trying to cross borders.

    Fayomi, a Lecturer in Political Science at Covenant University, said the conference whose themed was “Migration, Mobility and Development in Africa,” aimed at proffering academic and scientific solutions to migration challenges in West African countries by setting up scientific and professional discussions among West African Francophone and Anglophone academics and policy actors on the links between migration, mobility and development, with emphasis on original and empirical researches.

    Researcher of International Development Studies of Roskilde University, Denmark, Prof. Eric Hahonou said: “People always view migration in a negative connotation, especially with the migration crisis in Europe. But with this workshop, we want to show that migration has positive impacts on societies. It allows people to transfer technology, culture, ideas; religious beliefs and make good economic impact on the host countries. It also has positive impact on the citizenship aspect.”

    He urged governments across the world to desist from rejecting immigrants because “there are extremely high risks involved when countries promote xenophobic ideas. Not only will it damage the people, it will also damage the economic aspect. There would be loss of economic value, because they would be difficult to access and create a gap that will be difficult to fill. So it is important to realise the added value of people coming together.”

    Prof. Hahonou, who is the Director of the International Migration Institute at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom (UK), added that migration can only lead to problems when resources and facilities are not available in the migrants’ home countries, thereby hindering immigration.

    Meanwhile, Technical Advisor of the ECOWAS Department of Free Movement, Corinne Massardier decried non-compliance of ECOWAS protocols by member states, even as he appealed for better co-operation and funding assistance.

    She said Director of the Department, Sanoh N’faly has begun to implement mechanisms to monitor compliance of the free movement protocol in eight member countries. She noted that having begun in other countries would commence in Nigeria next year by planting free movement buses at the borders of ECOWAS member states, with which migrants could move freely without encountering unnecessary checks and Customs’ challenges.

    Massardier said the buses would bear ECOWAS identification tags, therefore allowing its occupants free access into the country.

    Sub-themes examined at the conference included South-south mobility and West African Higher Education; mobility and informal sector; mobility and sub-regional economic and financial exchanges; mobility brakes and hassles; mobility and family strategies; cross border trade of women and mobility in the oil and mining regions, among others.

     

  • Stakeholders advocate flexible migration laws

    Stakeholders advocate flexible migration laws

    Mindful of the strategic position of Lagos as economic capital of West Africa, experts and researchers have called for softer migration laws in Lagos State and other parts of Africa that are experiencing serious immigration challenges.

    For four days, stakeholders in immigration issues converged on Ota, Ogun State for the 2015 conference of the West Africa Migration Development and Regional Integration (MIGDEVRI) programme which held at Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State. They urged governments across the continent to comply with stipulated protocols of free movement of persons, right of establishment and residency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). National Coordinator of the programme, Dr Oluyemi Fayomi urged the Nigerian government to strengthen all necessary institutions to comply with the ECOWAS protocols to curb bottlenecks posed by security agents, including Customs and Immigration officers, among others when people are trying to cross borders.

    Fayomi, a Lecturer in Political Science at Covenant University, said the conference whose themed was “Migration, Mobility and Development in Africa,” aimed at proffering academic and scientific solutions to migration challenges in West African countries by setting up scientific and professional discussions among West African Francophone and Anglophone academics and policy actors on the links between migration, mobility and development, with emphasis on original and empirical researches.

    Researcher of International Development Studies of Roskilde University, Denmark, Prof. Eric Hahonou said: “People always view migration in a negative connotation, especially with the migration crisis in Europe. But with this workshop, we want to show that migration has positive impacts on societies. It allows people to transfer technology, culture, ideas; religious beliefs and make good economic impact on the host countries. It also has positive impact on the citizenship aspect.”

    He urged governments across the world to desist from rejecting immigrants because “there are extremely high risks involved when countries promote xenophobic ideas. Not only will it damage the people, it will also damage the economic aspect. There would be loss of economic value, because they would be difficult to access and create a gap that will be difficult to fill. So it is important to realise the added value of people coming together.”

    Prof. Hahonou, who is the Director of the International Migration Institute at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom (UK), added that migration can only lead to problems when resources and facilities are not available in the migrants’ home countries, thereby hindering immigration.

    Meanwhile, Technical Advisor of the ECOWAS Department of Free Movement, Corinne Massardier decried non-compliance of ECOWAS protocols by member states, even as he appealed for better co-operation and funding assistance.

    She said Director of the Department, Sanoh N’faly has begun to implement mechanisms to monitor compliance of the free movement protocol in eight member countries. She noted that having begun in other countries would commence in Nigeria next year by planting free movement buses at the borders of ECOWAS member states, with which migrants could move freely without encountering unnecessary checks and Customs’ challenges.

    Massardier said the buses would bear ECOWAS identification tags, therefore allowing its occupants free access into the country.

    Sub-themes examined at the conference included South-south mobility and West African Higher Education; mobility and informal sector; mobility and sub-regional economic and financial exchanges; mobility brakes and hassles; mobility and family strategies; cross border trade of women and mobility in the oil and mining regions, among others.