Participants and stakeholders at the Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM), summit have called for collaboration to halt the trend of irregular migration in the country.
The two-day event was held between November 26 and 27, 2019 at the Merit House, Maitama Abuja with the theme, “Migration: The Economy, Human Security and Diaspora Value.”
The occasion was chaired by Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees (IDP), Honourable Umar Muhammad Jega with Professor Kanu Ikechukwu Anthony, O.S.A as guest speaker and other major stakeholders in the migration affairs in attendance.
Professor Kanu enjoined government and stakeholders to make humanity the central focus of migration arguing that it was wrong to refer to anyone as illegal migrant but instead addressed them as irregular migrant.
Stating that the event had become annual convergence for Migration Journalists across the globe, Ajibola Abayomi, President of JIFORM urged the Federal Government to fine tune migration policy to attract more quality hands and foreign direct investment into the nation and provide more employments and other social security benefits to the citizens so as to disabuse the minds of thousands of youths falling prey to human traffickers.
He said JIFORM now with over 150 migration journalists across the continents and other volunteers, was a child of necessity that grew from collaboration between Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and international media trainers in 2018 would continue to champion advocacy against irregular migration, human trafficking and factors leading the internal displacement of citizens by organising various empowerment programmes for journalists within and outside Nigeria in 2020.
Speaking, Honourable Jega charged Nigerians to embrace peace and work with government to halt crisis fuelling displacement of Nigerians from their communities.
He praised JIFORM for the determination to sensitize Nigerians and other nations on the negative consequences of irregular migration.
Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), represented by the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Sunday James urged foreigners in Nigeria to take advantage of e-migrant registration to regularize their status to avoid deportation after the expiration of the exercises.
He said that the service was willing to work with JIFORM and other development partners to improve government policies on migration.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa represented by the Director of Communication of the agency, Balogun Abduralman reiterated the commitment of NIDCOM to the protection of Nigerians abroad and improvement of diaspora and migration policies to promote safe and legal migration.
National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in its presentation said the agency would assist Nigerians with all relevant information to tap from the positive side of migration.
Other speakers at the event included the National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) represented by his Special Adviser, Mrs. Abimbola Oyetunde, the General Manager Bronze FM, Benin City, the Coordinator, Migrant Project, Nigeria, Clare Henshaw, Chairman, Lagos NUJ, Dr. Qasim Akinreti, Executive Director, Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), Imabong Sanusi and other participants.
Photo: From R-L: Guest Speaker, Prof. Ikechukwu Anthony Kanu, President of JIFORM, Mr. Abayomi Ajibola, Chairman, House Committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugees, Hon. Umar Mohammed Jega and a member of JIFORM during the Migration Summit in Abuja.
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