The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) have initiated partnership to curb the scourge of irregular migration.
Mr Victor Lutenco, head of the Lagos Sub -office and senior programme coordinator, Migration Management of the IOM said the partnership will build legal pathways for regular migration, which has become pertinent and inevitable.
A statement issued by Gabriel Odu of the media, public relations and protocols unit, NIDCOM noted that Mr Lutenco stated this during a visit to the chairman/CEO of NiDCOM) Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja recently.
The IOM programme chief said the visit to NIDCOM is focused on dealing with emergency situations, humanitarian context, consequences of irregular migration, and trying to provide assistance in terms of rehabilitation and reintegration.
“Building opportunities for legal pathways for migration, so that we reduce the causes, attack the problem at its core, one of the important factors that can contribute towards building those pathways are Nigerians in the Diaspora. He said.
Dr Sule Yakubu Bassi, secretary to the Commission, who received the delegation on behalf of the NiDCOM boss, said IOM is a great friend and partner to the commission helping with some of the commission’s programs right from inception such as midwifing the publication of the National Diaspora Policy, training of Pioneer Staff of NIDCOM, among others.
Dr Bassi added that NiDCOM was set up primarily to engage with the Nigerians in the Diaspora, saying the Diaspora phenomenon is the product of regular migration.
“There are several overlaps because some irregular migrants sometimes end up being regular migrants, and sometimes, regular migrants end up also being irregular migrants”, he said.
The NIDCOM secretary also said that an estimated number of about 17 million Nigerians in the Diaspora are making the country proud in all their endeavors such as Agriculture, medicine, ICT, Movies, Real Estate, education and many others.
He appreciated IOM for their technical partnership and like the proverbial Oliver Twist, requested for even stronger and more robust engagement with the Organization moving forward premised on mutuality and reciprocity.
