allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Switzerland - Nigeria Tops Illegal Migration List
Dele Ogbodo
11 June 2009
Abuja — The Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Mr. Andreas Baum, Tuesday in Abuja, disclosed that his country witnessed rising number of illegal immigrants from West African countries with Nigerian nationals accounting for the highest number in the last one year.
He said the number tripled when compared to 2007 statistics of migration to Switzerland. Migration Advisor at the Switzerland Embassy, Miss Patricia Dvoracek, who represented the Ambassador made this disclosure at the opening of the 2-day workshop on "National Migration Policy for Regional Project: Migration in West Africa and Central Africa: National Profiles for Strategic Policy Development".
The Ambassador pointed out that the global financial crisis was one of the major causes of illegal migrantion to Europe in search of new job opportunities.
Baum explained that "These facts put our Federal Office for Migration, supervised by the Ministry of Police and Justice, under public and political pressures. Quick and effective answers are required. One of the solutions which the Swiss government is promoting is by supporting the programme "Migration in West and Central Africa: National Profiles for Strategic Policy Development through the International Organization for Migration (IOM)".
He said Swiss Foreign Minister, Mrs. Michelline Calm-Rey, tabled the issue before Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, during her recent visit to Nigeria two months ago.
In a key note address, the Minister of Special Duties, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, who spoke through his Permanent Secretary, Edith Gonda, said the workshop which was aimed at the presentation of migration, data-based profile for Nigeria would equip policy makers with the necessary tools to face the challenges of mixed migration flow was not only timely, but a right step towards mainstreaming migration issues in development programme of Nigeria.
He said the Federal Government's commitment to proffer solutions to the challenges posed by regular and irregular migration issues in Nigeria made it to grant additional responsibility granted to the National Commission for Refugees as a focal agency for the management of migration underscores its front burner in the present administration policy trust.
He said government is committed to effective management of migration issues by steaming the tide of irregular migration by discouraging migrants from using illegal routes that often lead to their untimely deaths. He said if migration is effectively managed will reduce the issue of brain drain and ensure the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as well as the 7-point Agenda
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Jang Shuns Reps Over Fulani Expulsion
Nasidi A. Yahaya
7 June 2009
Neither Plateau State governor David Jonah Jang nor any member of the state executive council was ready to host the House of Representatives' committee mandated to investigate causes of the recent expulsion of Fulani nomads by the state government, Speaker Dimeji Bankole said yesterday in Abuja.
He however said the committee will meet with citizens of Wase Local Government to hear their side of the incident in order to write its reports and present to the House.
Bankole, who spoke when he hosted officials of the Council of Ulama of Nigeria led by Sheikh Ibrahim Umar Kabo, said the legislators will collaborate with the executive to bring lasting peace in the state.
He said, "We are aware of the problems in the state and we sent a delegation led by the Deputy Speaker, Usman Bayero Nafada though they were not able to secure appointment with of the state government officials. Meanwhile, they will meet the affected people and write their reports."
Speaking earlier, Sheikh Kabo called for reprimanding of Governor Jang for instigating another ethnic bigotry and causing damages to the Fulani communities in the state.
According to him, the expulsion has generated loss of confidence on the government and the political system that has failed to stop the reckless act and restore normalcy in the place it occurred.
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: 1,500 Illegal Edo Immigrants Languish in Libyan Prisons
Simon Ebegbulem
4 June 2009
Benin — OVER one thousand five hundred indigenes of Edo State who were on their way to Europe through Libya without genuine documents have been languishing in detention in Libya in the past three months.
Six of the women among them, were said to have been impregnated by the Libyan security operatives.
One of the victims, who identified himself as Charles Erawuyi, lamented to Vanguard on telephone yesterday that they were arrested while trying to enter Europe through Libya . He explained that over three thousand of them, including citizens of Kenya and Mali, were arrested but their governments have intervened to secure their release while only Nigerians remained in jail.
He said that among the Nigerians, one thousand five hundred of them are from Edo State and that six of the women amongst them have been impregnated by the Libyan security operatives who used the ladies to satisfy their sex urge.
But the state government through the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Foreign Matters-Diaspora, Mr Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, and a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie, described the plight of the victims as wicked and inhuman, saying the state government would do all it could to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure their release.
According to Ehiozuwa, " the Comrade governor is very concerned about the situation because we found out that majority of them are from Edo State.
We have already made contact with the Federal Government to see what we can do to secure their urgent release. It is also sad to know that some of the girls have been impregnated.
That is very bad and it is unacceptable. We will not only seek for their release, we will also ensure that those who are involved in such inhuman treatment are punished.
"But we want to advise our people to stop rushing outside the country without genuine papers. The Comrade governor has put every thing in place to make the state more comfortable for the people. They should stay and apply for jobs because jobs are being created".
We want to say that it is not rosy out there, instead of going without genuine papers, we will advise that they look for what to do in the country.
"The Comrade Governor is seriously concerned about the plight of our people out there and he is reaching out to the Federal agencies to see what we can do. We cannot afford to allow our people perish out there" he stated.
On his part, Mr Osagie hinted that "I and some members of the House of Representatives will be going to Libya in the third week of this month to see what we can do to secure their release. The situation is very sad, though I learnt that the girls have been deported back already. We will go and secure the release of the men because no matter how we see it they are Nigerians".
allAfrica.com: Morocco: Sordid Lifestyles of Nigerian Illegal Immigrants
Chinwe Ochu
21 May 2009
opinion
Lagos — Chinwe Ochu who was in Rabat, Morocco recently tells the sordid life of Nigerian illegal immigrants in that country which revolves around drugs, rape, begging, tribal gangsterism, murder and other criminal activities. She also encountered one of the Nigerians who wants to go back home
Her spoken English is good. She would not strike you as someone who would abandon her studies in the university for an illegal stay abroad. I met Joy Peters, a 22 year-old secondary school graduate from Ememuri, Edo State at the Nigerian Embassy in Rabat, Morocco. She had given herself up for repatriation to Nigeria after her dreadful stay in Morocco.
Through a friend, she had met a man named 'Baba London' in Benin City, "who promised to take her to Spain to help his wife out in her boutique business." According to her, the recklessness of the whole arrangement was that she did not know Baba London from Adam and did not ask the necessary questions; neither did she pay him any fees for the travel.
"My father is late and I normally help my mother in the farm. I am the last in the family. So I wanted to put one or two things together so that I can provide more money for us." Two days after the meeting, she set off with him; in addition to two other girls from Edo State on the journey. "I did not know him. I didn't ask him any questions. He never told me that we were going to Morocco."
She described to THISDAY the horrendous journey: to Morocco: "I left Nigeria on February 3, 2009. When we (ten of us) were going, we passed through the desert with a Maburro jeep. On our way, we met other people in Algeria and then we got to Morocco and stopped. We got to Morocco in April. It was a long journey. We took the desert road from Issalha to Wahkla to Oran to Algeria, because we faced deportation to Tisawhati. So, we spent almost three months on the road."
When I asked what sustained them on the journey, she said: "He bought some food items; we were eating Geisha, bread and some juice on the way. We were three girls form Benin that Baba London took. I don't know where all the girls are right now because I was locked up immediately we got to Rabat, Morocco.
"I told him that this was not the Europe that we agreed upon and he said that I should not worry that from Morocco, we will pass through the sea to Europe. I became scared and told him that my mother was not aware of me leaving the house. I now told him that I am going back to Nigeria and he insisted that I should stay there and later I will be in Europe. I said no because I have heard stories that people used to die in the sea. That got me scared."
Joy continued: "When he wanted to go back to Nigeria he handed me over to his friend, an Edo man named Ason, who was maltreating me. He said that he had spent six years in Morocco. That first night, he was nice. Then everything changed. I later found out that he does not have a work. He begs for a living. A lot of young Nigerian men beg for alms in Morocco to feed. He smokes Hashish and marijuana and comes back very drunk. He raped me all night and will invite his friends too. He said that he attended Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma and that he was an Eye cultist. That if I scream, he will cut me in pieces. When I refuse, he will beat me mercilessly and say that I do not respect his friends. He ties me up every time he goes out, hands and feet with shoe laces. It was really painful. When he comes back from his begging, he will bring the little food stuff he brought and I will cook just like his wife."
Joy alleged that she made several attempts to escape Ason's grip, but she was not successful. "Once, I ran away and met an Igbo man who said that he does not want to get involved with these boys because they are dangerous; and he returned me to him."
All indications pointed to the fact that she was sold to the said Ason as a sex slave. It was then Ason's responsibility to make contacts with other 'buyers' from Spain, who will in turn pay so much money for Joy. Just like the slave trade. Joy would overhear some men bargaining prices for her. She escaped when Ason forgot to lock the door one day and ran to an Ivorian woman in the neighbourhood, who equally begs for a living. She accommodated her until she was strong enough to go to the Nigerian Embassy.
According to her, at the Embassy, she is not even safe since the Ason has friends everywhere and would inform him of her whereabouts. "He will wait for me at the corner till he gets me. I have made him loose some money because no one has bought me already."
Commenting on the present state of affairs, Mrs. Amina Garba, a Councillor at the Nigerian Embassy in Rabat, Morocco said the situation of Nigerian illegal immigrants in Morocco is really shameful and pathetic. She said the number of Nigerian citizens in the country is not definite due to the high incidence of unregistered arrivals. Garba said most of them are wanted people back in Nigeria. According to her, they are mostly felons who escaped the law from their various states in Nigeria and traveled through the desert road to North Africa.
"The unemployed Nigerians here beg for alms to feed themselves. They go to public places like the mosques, supermarkets carrying their babies and wearing tattered clothes. It's a difficult situation for us here. Most of them come here and continue with their various nefarious activities. They are hardened criminals. They normally demand what they call "passage money" from new Nigerian settlers into their neighbourhood. Failure to provide such fees often results in bloodshed."
Another situation has reared its ugly head amongst the illegal Nigerian immigrants' community in Morocco-tribalism. Garba explained that "these Nigerians in Morocco have "houses," according to tribes. Each tribe has a chairman that coordinates the group. Sometimes they have tribal wars amongst themselves that result in violence and bloodshed. Each and every house has own mafia and perpetuates violence. Recently, an Esan man killed an Igbo man over a dispute of 20 dirams (Moroccan currency).
"He was subsequently arrested and sentenced to twenty years in prison. The Igbos, instead of leaving the matter as it is, started their revenge scheme by kidnapping all Edo people that they could lay their hands on, raping, maiming and killing them.
"Reports have it that in Ouchda (a border town between Morocco and Algeria); there is an Igbo man called the 'National Lord'. He arranges for the kidnap of a large number of female illegal immigrants whom he locks up in rooms. While being raped, these women are videotaped and the videos sent to their relatives in Europe demanding ransom for their release. He is said to be rich and bribes his way out of prosecution," Garba told THISDAY.
When asked what the Embassy is doing about this 'National Lord' and other nefarious Nigerians, Garba said "When the embassy sought more information on the said 'National Lord', nobody wanted anything to do with the investigation. Nobody wanted to reveal anything."
The Councillor said that the Consular issue is the Embassy's most daunting challenge. She said that "if only the Nigerians can live peacefully amongst themselves . . . The Moroccan police sometimes say that they have let some Nigerians that are illegal immigrants go because they look poor and harassed. What they are bothered about is for them not to disrupt public peace."
According to her, statistics have it that in the Casablanca prison, Nigerians are the second largest in number after the Moroccans- totaling over 100. Of this number, 60 are for drug-related offences, while the others are jailed for murder, maiming and violence of all sorts.
At the end of the day, Joy entreated to be taken back home to Nigeria, saying that she wanted to go back to school. "I wouldn't wish for what I went through for my enemy", she said.
Is it not high time Nigerians stopped bringing shame to this great country and work for the common good of Nigeria? Although we might be lacking in basic infrastructure for a normal living, engaging in disgraceful conduct outside the shore of this country will contribute to the negative perception that pervades the average hardworking innocent Nigerian worldwide. Or are we not re- branding anymore?
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Representatives to Investigate Expatriate Quota AbuseTashikalmah Hallah and Nasidi A. Yahaya
18 May 2009
The House of Representatives yesterday said it has concluded arrangements to investigate increasing cases of violation of expatriate quota provisions by some foreigners working in the country.
The House Committee on Interior said the measure became necessary due to realization that some expatriates were living and working in the country in violation of the country's immigration laws.
A statement by the Clerk, House Committee on Interior, Mr. Dennis Iko, said preliminary findings show that most companies operating in the country have been in constant violation of expatriate quota provisions and business permit granted them in disregard to the laws of the land.
It said that the information some of the expatriates have not filed their personal income tax return for a long time, saying the situation needs to conduct the investigation.
It said that "the Committee is therefore compelled to carry out full investigation into these unwholesome practices and where it finds necessary; it will invoke the full weight of the law on culprits".
The Committee urged Nigerians and non-Nigerians with perceived grievances to come forward with such details and evidence that will assist it in investigation in the interest of the country.
"It is clear that where expatriate quota is abused it is the citizens that suffer. The abuse of expatriate quota and failure to file income tax returns, contravene the provision of the law and it is to that extent an economic crime under prevailing Act," the Committee said.
The Committee said that more worrisome was the fact that some expatriates have become brazen enough to start acting as retailers, describing the development as "racketeering which carries a heavy sentence once proven."
It said the country recognized all bilateral agreements entered into with sister countries of the world without prejudice to its own interest.
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Brutality - Envoy Confronts South African Police
15 May 2009
Lagos — Nigeria's Consul General (C-G) in Johannesburg, Kalu Ukwu, has challenged police authorities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, over incessant reports of brutalisation, intimidation, extortion and harassment of Nigerians.
Ukwu, who visited the Province's Police Commissioner, Hamilton Ngidi, in his office in Durban, on Wednesday, said this was rather sad, especially at a time when relations between Nigeria and South Africa had reached a strategic level.
"'Nigerians still suffer series of police brutalisation, harassment, extortion and undue intimidation here in South Africa. I must say that we are not happy with the reported cases of undue harassment Nigerians are subjected to.
"While we are not against your government fighting criminality, we take exception to the situation where every Nigerian is targeted and tagged a criminal.
"You must be aware that many Nigerians are hard working, honest and respect the law, while contributing meaningfully to the economic growth of your economy. We will appreciate it if these issues are looked into, so that the existing cordial relations between both nations would continue to thrive, as both countries prepare to celebrate the 10 years Bi-National anniversary in October."
Ukwu said. Nigerian government was committed to protecting interest, welfare and well-being of its citizens anywhere in the world and would not fold its arms while Nigerians were unfairly treated by agents of government of their host community.
Responding, Ngidi assured Ukwu that the police would endeavour to look into all issues raised, with a view to fishing out some of the bad elements within the force.
He, however, said, "we do not deliberately go after any particular people or Nigerians during our policing operations, but I agree that there are some bad officers among us who take the laws into their hands."
"There is a unit currently dealing with tens of tons of such complaints even from South Africans," he said.
Earlier, at a meeting with leaders of the Nigerian community in Durban, Ukwu urged them to live by example and remain patriotic and good ambassadors of Nigeria in their host community.He advised the leadership to always liaise with officials of the Consulate if they confront any difficulty.
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Gowon Wants Rural-Urban Migration Checked
Abubakar Ibrahim
12 May 2009
"A well developed rural area will be an attraction for people to settle in their rural communities and stop the migration," former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon has said.
The former Nigerian leader who chaired the 1st All Nigeria Rural Development Summit at the International Conference Centre, Abuja yesterday told participants from federal, state and local governments, international development and donor agencies and non-governmental organisations, "to review the important question of rural development, the present and existing policies and legislation and its importance for and in national development".
He urged the summit to look at all the basic requirements for rural development like roads, water, power, health, education, agriculture and rural development and the enhancement of productive capacity in the agricultural and rural development subsector of the economy.
Gowon reminded the conference of the Federal and State governments efforts at rural development in the Third National Development Plan, 1975-80 which emphasised on agriculture and agro-allied industries and the development of infrastructural facilities .
"Of great value is the joint efforts by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO), USAID, DFID, and many Nigerian experts/consultants who carried out sectoral studies between 1999-2004 that determined the existing status in the rural and how to address the numerous problems. The outcome culminated in the development and launching of the National Policy on Integrated Rural Development and Strategies which unfortunately were not effectively executed."
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: 'Why Nomadic Fulanis Were Evacuated'
Chuks Okocha And Seriki Adinoyi
11 May 2009
Abuja/Jos — Plateau State Government has explained why it evacuated hundreds of 'nomadic Fulanis' from the Wase Local Government of the state, stating that it was to guard against any untowards development following the Jos North crisis of last year which resulted in bloodshed.
This came as the chairman of Wase local government, Abubakar Mohammed Badu, who is also a Fulani Muslim, in an interview with THISDAY, said that the migrants' arrival posed a threat to his people, and as such, had to alert the State Security Council.
Yakubu said that "in 1984, similar migrants were accommodated and they turned out to be bandits and also caused disputes over land ownership among the people," stressing "with this experience, any body could be afraid."
Addressing newsmen earlier in Abuja, Plateau State Commissioner of Information, Gregory Yenlong, said " some migrant Fulanis came into Bashar axis of Wase Local Government shortly after the November 28, 2008 crisis that affected some parts of Jos metropolis. "Their arrival which was in 14 trucks immediately attracted apprehension by the local residents who are predominately Fulanis. Their fears were informed by the ugly expriences of 1984 where similar migrants were accommodated and turned out to engage in armed robbery and banditry. Other negative activities of the migrants led to disputation over farmlands with local farmers," he said.
The commissioner also accused the House of Represen-tatives member representing Wase Federal Constituency, Hon. Idris Ahmed, of misrepresenting facts for sheer political gains, stating that the petition against the state government was aimed at pitching the government against a peaceful muslim community and the country at large.
"The authors of the said petition are not only mischievious, but want to make a political capital out of a settled matter," the commissioner said, explaining that the state had nothing against muslims in Wase local government or anywhere else in the state.
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Swiss Offer to Immigrants
6 May 2009
editorial
Lagos — The recent offer of $6,500, about N950, 000, by the Swiss government to assist some Nigerians identified as illegal immigrants in that country to return home is not just an uncommon gesture in international diplomacy but also one that should be commended.
According to Nigeria's Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr. Martin Uhomoibhi, this was part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2004 between the two countries to encourage the illegal immigrants to relocate back to the country. About 1000 of such individuals have embraced the offer while many more are believed to have also indicated interest to accept same, even as the two countries have put in place machinery to ensure that the money is utilised for the right purpose when the immigrants return home.
It is, however, embarrassing that Nigerians are being lured with money to return home from a foreign country. It is also surprising that some Nigerians acted contrary to what is considered the standard in an organised and normal society. Indeed, in African tradition as well as several other traditions, an opportunity to return home from a sojourn calls for celebration. This is, however, not the case with some of these compatriots.
That Nigerians living illegally in Switzerland and other parts of Europe are not willing to return home would not have been heard of if conditions and the standard of living in the country were better or even comparable to what obtains in their present places of abode. Apart from this set of people, there are millions of other Nigerians who are illegal immigrants in countries like the United Kingdom, United States and South Africa.
In spite of attempts to discourage these Nigerians from migrating illegally to other countries, several of our youths have thrown caution to the winds in their desperate search for greener pastures across the borders. Many have lost their lives in the desert and on the high seas in the process.
We salute the government of Switzerland for this gesture which is in sharp contrast to the brutality visited on Nigerians in some other countries. For instance, Libya recently deported many Nigerians by simply dumping them at our airports without offering any explanations for the action. Also, a Nigerian that was forcefully being sent home from Spain recently died on board the plane due to the brutality he suffered. There are also cases of inhuman treatment meted out to Nigerians by their hosts particularly within Africa, which are too numerous to mention.
Switzerland is a highly organised and efficient society in terms of data capturing and other related issues. They have the best banking system in the world, a strong, stable economy and are well known for being a non-aligned nation. It is encouraging that having made the offer, the Swiss government, in collaboration with Nigerian officials, is working to effectively monitor the Nigerians when they return home.
This is to ensure that the financial incentives given them are utilised judiciously. There are, indeed, opportunities within the economy that this group of people can tap into to complement the experiences and skills they have acquired while living in Europe.
The sad story of Nigerians being paid to return to their homes, however, is a clear indication of the failure of leadership in the country. The elite, as a result of corruption, have not only impoverished Nigerians but also continued to enrich European nations including Switzerland where much of the money stolen from the national and state treasuries are kept.
Switzerland, as the major custodian of the loot of corrupt African leaders has helped, directly or indirectly, to foster underdevelopment in the country from which Nigerians are running. While repatriating these Nigerians, it should be noted that a significant part of the funds looted by corrupt government officials, which would have been utilised in providing the needed facilities for the citizens, are still trapped in coded accounts in Swiss banks.
Switzerland, other European nations and the United States of America should do more to assist Nigeria and other African countries to recover the stolen funds kept in their bank vaults so that such monies can be used to provide electricity, good roads, water and other major facilities that will make life comfortable for Nigerians and ensure that they do not have to run across the borders as illegal immigrants, in search of what they are not able to enjoy at home.
Copyright © 2009 Daily Champion. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: FG Moves to Repeal Immigration Act
Juliana Taiwo
7 May 2009
Abuja — The Federal Executive Council yesterday approved the repeal of the Immigration Act 1963. The Council equally approved the Draft Immigration Bill 2008.
Speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting, Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, said the Draft Immigration Bill seeks to "Change the nomenclature of the Head of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) from Director to Comp-troller-General of Immigra-tion.
"Provide for the establishment of a special court to be known as the immigration court solely to determine matters of immigration and to ensure speedy disposition of immigration cases and review the offences and punishment which is particularly necessary as the fines provided in the 1963 legislation is regarded as minimal in these times as to also ensure that immigration law violators are adequately punished while potential violators are deterred.
"For your information, the approval by council today for the passage of the immigration bill is an attempt to remove from Nigeria's statute books, old and outdated legislation and introduce new one that is in line with best practices the world over."
Copyright © 2009 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
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