Illegal Migration By Nigerians

IF Nigerians today are treated with disdain outside the shores of their country, it is because of the unprecedented exodus of Nigerians seeking greener pastures in foreign lands through very dubious means.

INDEED, in their bid to escape the hardships in their fatherlands, brought about by bad leadership, Nigerians have had to resort to many illegalities, just to leave the country.

SADLY enough, our recent experiences as regards the issue of traveling in Nigeria, have left very sour tastes in the mouths of Nigerian authorities against the backdrop of the racketeering and illegalities which have continued to bedevil all the institutions and agencies that have connections one way or the other, with traveling.

IT is important to note at this point that the craze and urge by Nigerians of all ages to travel abroad, had heightened over these years, particularly dating from 1985 till present day. The reasons are not farfetched. The period under consideration, saw the implementation of the anti-people Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) by the military junta under General Ibrahim Babangida. That neo-colonial economic programme as handed over to the junta, threw the country into an economic – political quagmire, thus causing a further economic and cultural dislocation in the Nigerian polity. The economy became decimated, and the after-effect found expression in Nigerians not being able to afford three square meals per day while the very basic needs got out of the people’s reach.

PART of SAP’s negative multiplier effect was the prevalence of acts contrary to the norm of the society. Armed robbery incidences rose geometrically, prostitution assumed a commercial status, fraudulent practices in the form of Advance Fee Fraud (419) became another form of profession for those who engage in it, illegal migration with fake documents and in most case, without documents at all became fashionable.

RECENTLY, most Nigerians and the international media had reported frightening figures of Africans of which Nigerians are more, said to have lost their lives in the North African Saharan desert and the Mediterranean Sea in their bid to travel to Europe for better life. Corroborating this report, the European Union Civil Peace programme Adviser of the Justice, Peace and Development Commission in Africa, Mr. Claus Schrowange, stated at a one-day seminar for youths on “ILLEGAL MIGRATION TO EUROPE: CHALLENGES FOR NIGERIA” held in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State that “it is sad to note that over 10,000 Nigerians engage in illegal migration to Europe through the Saharan desert on a daily basis.”

FROM available statistics, for the preceding year alone, about 35,000 West Africans reached the Kanari Highlands, 22,000 reached Italy, 8,000 managed to reach the Spanish Mainland directly, while no fewer than the quoted figures lost their lives in the process too.

IT is the candid view of THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER, that, if the present administration of President Yar’Adua would provide jobs for our teeming youths, improve on the dilapidating infrastructures, provide investment friendly economic atmosphere, provide recreational facilities, the incidences of illegal migration by Nigerians and the resultant hazards would be checked.

FUTHERMORE, Foreign Missions and Embassies operating in Nigeria, should be made to treat Nigerians with some respect and dignity, and must be prevailed upon to relax most of their stringent traveling measures and conditionalities placed on every Nigerian intending to travel abroad.

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