Following diverse migration developments in the year 2019, stakeholders from different sectors have concluded that collaboration is essential to tackling irregular migration in Nigeria.

This position was established at the just concluded maiden edition of the Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM) Summit in Abuja.

With the theme “Migration: The Economy, Human Security and Diaspora Value,” the summit featured presentations and papers from policymakers, non-governmental organisations, academia, media trainers amongst others.

In his opening remarks, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees (IDP), Honourable Umar Muhammad Jega charged Nigerians to embrace peace and work with the government to halt crisis fuelling displacement of Nigerians from their communities.

Presenting a paper on Africa and Migration Challenge, Professor Kanu Ikechukwu Anthony urged government and stakeholders to make humanity the central focus of migration arguing that it was wrong to refer to anyone as an illegal migrant but instead addressed them as an irregular migrant.

Coordinator of The Migrant Project, Clare Henshaw said that information dissemination, through different channels, is critical to stemming the tide of irregular migration in Nigeria.

President of JIFORM, Ajibola Abayomi said the organisation which was established in 2018 now has over 150 migration journalists across the continents and other volunteers. He said the organisation 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.

They should get more Visa free countries for our Nigerian passport