Prioritize migration to rescue Nigeria economy, Stakeholders tell FG

Prioritize migration to rescue Nigeria economy, Stakeholders tell FG

By: Michael Mike, Abuja

The federal government has been advised by some stakeholders in the migration industry to prioritize migration as a viable economic option in rescuing the country from economic sabotage.

The call was made at the Global Migration Movie Festival, 2021 organized by the International Organization for Migration, IOM on Friday.

Two movies (Hide; Sierra Leone and Lodgers; Nigeria) were premiered and used as case studies to analyze the rate of irregular migration, causes and effects.

The stakeholders acknowledged that irregular migration caused by poverty, unemployment, insecurity and instability is eating deep into the country and impacting the psychology of affected children, youths, and women.

The Executive Director, Africa Youth Growth Foundation, Dr. Arome Salifu said “Government needs to prioritize migration as an option to get out of economic challenges. If not, we would keep looking at migration as a challenge. If the government will consider it as an option and an area to explore, all they need to do is to standardize and certify our skills to conform with the country’s specific labor standard. Now that way, Nigeria can now explore bilateral, multeral labor instruments, agreements and resolutions to allow Nigerians leave Nigeria officially to work in those countries.

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“Canada is looking for a certain number of doctors coming into their country. There is nothing stopping Nigeria as a country to have an understanding with the Canadian government to have a certain number of Nigerians as long as we meet the specific requirements and qualifications. 

“The same for Germany. There is nothing wrong for Nigeria to set up German schools purely for the German language. Nigerians learn the language in preparation to leave Nigeria and work in Germany. Indians and the Philippines are doing so. They are looking at migration as a viable economic option.

“If the government wants to actually look locally to solve the problem of unemployment and poverty. The government makes sure that there is a functional industrialization sector, good educational and health system which is capital intensive. So we need to look for a shortcut to solve this problem.

Also toeing the same line, the National Project Officer, Labour Migration and Diaspora, IOM, Elizabeth Puage said: “Until all these issues such as socio-economic, political issues are addressed, there is no way forward in tackling the irregular migration. Government needs to do a lot. There is a need for coordination among relevant stakeholders. There is a need for strengthened capabilities to handle or manage migration and sustain awareness.

“Government needs to release fundings for relevant stakeholders to implement migration activities and to address major drivers of migration such as Gender Based Violence, child trafficking, poverty etc.”

Prioritize migration to rescue Nigeria economy, Stakeholders tell FG