THE European Union (EU) said it had recorded no fewer than 10,000 cases of irregular migration within the last two months. The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ketil Karisen, made the disclosure on Monday at the Senate Round-table on Migration and Human Trafficking, holding in Benin, the Edo capital.

Karisen , who said that EU’s illegal migration registration of the 10,000 took place in 2018, noted that it was recorded between January and February.

He said that in 2017, EU registered about 187,000 cases, while number of deaths registered so far was 411, as against 116 reordered in 2017. He said that of the figure, Nigeria accounts for about 60 per cent, adding that in view of this there was need to correct worrisome error.

The envoy, who said that the issue of migration and mobility were as old as the existence of man, and should not be an issue for worry. He said rather “what should be of worry and concern was the irregular migration and the conditions the victims were being migrated and causes for such migration.

Karisen said the situation therefore called for urgent, immediate and long term solution to the problems of irregular migration.

He also said that there was the need for shared responsibilities as well as bringing offenders to justice, adding that there was need to redouble efforts to dialogue on the best possible ways to adressing issue of migration.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in his opening remarks, said that the issue of irregular migration and human Trafficking had become the bane of the nation’s existence as Nigeria currently ranked 23rd in EU irregular migration index.

Saraki said the issue had become a Nigerian disaster reference point as a country, ranked fifth among countries crossing the Mediterranean sea, with an estimated 10, 000 reported to have lost their lives in the process.

He said the roundtable was to serve as spring board to stem the tide, saying the summit would help identify reasons for irregular migration and human trafficking and proffer solution on the way forward.

The senate president said the government was doing its best to liberate Nigerians from the slave trade going on in Libya as many lives had been lost in the cause of irregular migration, noting that the time was apt to end it.

He said that there was the need to urgently begin to address the issue as well as work and collaborate with the EU to stem the tide. He said that the effort by Edo government was the beginning of many steps that would be taking in bringing the issue and inherent problems to the fore.

Saraki expressed confidence that at the end of the summit, decisions such as improved collaborations, and how human trafficking would be stopped, would have been reached.

He said that the summit would also address issues of how to improve policy legislation, funding to Agency like NAPTIP and how to fast track pending treaties.

Earlier, Gov Godwin Obaseki of Edo said that the issue of irregular migration and human trafficking in the country had become critical, noting that its magnitude had never been fully grasped.

He said the Edo government considered it a variance to the culture and value of the people hence, a taskforce was set up in the state to handle the issue.

He said the task-force had been working assiduously to achieve its objectives, as it had been receiving returnees, while offenders were being prosecuted with issue of stigmatization taking seriously.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day summit which was attended by various stakeholders was organised by the Office of the Senate President.

NAN also reports that dignitaries at the summit include fellow senators, ministers, security chiefs, and representatives from National Human Rights Commission, National Oriented Agency, and the Delta Government. (NAN)

– Feb.  26, 2018 @ 13:25 GMT |