The revelation made in Abuja recently by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, about the plight of Nigerian illegal migrants is frightening and deserves quick response.
According to Maduekwe, not less than 59,000 Nigerians without legal travelling documents are waiting in transit in north African countries to cross over to Western Europe. Of the number, 8,000 are in Morocco, 16,000 in Algeria, 20,000 in Libya and about 15,000 in Mauritania.
The minister also said more than 10,000 Nigerian migrants died between 1999 and 2002 while trying to transit to Europe en route north Africa. He further hinted that 1,469 Nigerians were serving various prison terms in UK prisons, 15 in Libya and six in Afghanistan prisons. Maduekwe also said 20 Nigerians are facing death sentences in Indonesia, while one was executed in Saudi Arabia recently.
The minister said their mode of departure made them vulnerable to criminal gangs who “recruit them into all manner of illicit businesses with long jail sentences as consequences when they get caught.” The minister had earlier disclosed, in May, that the Libyan authorities had concluded arrangements to repatriate 314 detained Nigerians.
Besides the minister’s revelations, media reports also say that 14 Nigerians got drowned in Spain recently while trying to cross over to Europe in a boat.
This horrendous development has grave implications for the image of the country and the economy, besides exposing the inability of successive governments to revive the economy in spite of the nation’s stupendous wealth.
Without doubt, poor economy, collapsed infrastructure and lack of job opportunities are at the heart of this national embarrassment. Worse still, there is no hope for improvement as the nation’s leaders, like maggots that feed on excreta, have deliberately created and sustained the pervasive decay for their selfish ends.
All this, sadly, has made our youths, including graduates, professionals and those who entered legally as students or on sponsorship but refuse to return to the country to become illegal immigrants in other lands. They believe that life as an immigrant in other lands is better than the hopelessness in their home country. The situation is so desperate now that even deported Nigerians do boast to find their way out of the country again.
Posted: at 15-08-2008 11:04 PM (16 years ago) | Gistmaniac
darkocean002 at 18-08-2008 01:19 PM (16 years ago) (m)
Whoever wants to die shld be allowed too. infact, it will reduce the population of people in this country........i still do not understand what greener pasture they looking for to d extent of endangering thier lives to cross over to d western world. Yes job oppurtunities,good food, cheap cloths,exposure. thats not enough for anyone to endanger his or her life.. Let does that are abroad tell you what they face,am sure non would have tried to leave his country illegaly. Its good when you going abroad to study,it broaden your knowledge. in a case u going to another man's country empty handed hoping to get rich in a twinkle of an eye, u'll suffer and regret ever leaving. Most of this people abroad exchange there life for comfort. it sadden my heart alot... Our leaders should listen, one day, the angry youth will no longer have patient for all this, and its sure gonna result to a very long conflict. All they are waiting for is just one word, one action, one mind, one soul and one obligation.............
Posted: at 18-08-2008 01:19 PM (16 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Dan_Fulani at 24-05-2011 09:16 AM (13 years ago) (m)
The plight of "undocumented" Nigerians overseas is truly tragic. Every Nigerian needs to know that live is horrible for undocumented Nigerians overseas. Illegal immigrants overseas are treated badly by some government especially in the Middle East ( Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and North Africa nations) and southeast Asia (Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, China, and Thailand).
Many die in their attempts to make it across the Sahara desert to North Africa. Others drown as they try to cross the seas into Europe. Those who make it become slaves to the human traffickers who charge exorbitant fees for getting them overseas. They become indebted to the traffickers for up to five or more years. True, it takes that long to pay the traffickers. Some Nigerians think that there are riches waiting overseas for anyone who manage to make it there. Truth is that most of these countries have struggling economies slightly better than that in Nigeria.
dan fulani
Posted: at 24-05-2011 09:16 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Dan_Fulani at 24-05-2011 09:33 AM (13 years ago) (m)
Two things our government can to do to decrease the exodus of Nigerians overseas in search of jobs. First, do something about the unemployment in the country. One way is by stimulating the economy. Start a massive public works project, building roads, bridges, schools, etc. Put our citizens back to work. For this to work, it has to be very massive, say in the neighborhood of 200 billion Naira. Of course Nigeria will have to borrow some of the money and payback in ten to twenty years. Next, get the deported Nigerians to tell their stories.......the true stories so that those preparing to go overseas without the necessary documents will know what awaits them. Use this confessions in public campaigns design to discourage this reckless behaviors. Put simply: You can die trying to go overseas illegally! dan fulani
Posted: at 24-05-2011 09:33 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Dan_Fulani at 24-05-2011 09:36 AM (13 years ago) (m)
Quote from: darkocean002 on 18-08-2008 01:19 PM
Whoever wants to die shld be allowed too. infact, it will reduce the population of people in this country........i still do not understand what greener pasture they looking for to d extent of endangering thier lives to cross over to d western world. Yes job oppurtunities,good food, cheap cloths,exposure. thats not enough for anyone to endanger his or her life.. Let does that are abroad tell you what they face,am sure non would have tried to leave his country illegaly. Its good when you going abroad to study,it broaden your knowledge. in a case u going to another man's country empty handed hoping to get rich in a twinkle of an eye, u'll suffer and regret ever leaving. Most of this people abroad exchange there life for comfort. it sadden my heart alot... Our leaders should listen, one day, the angry youth will no longer have patient for all this, and its sure gonna result to a very long conflict. All they are waiting for is just one word, one action, one mind, one soul and one obligation.............
Thank you, Mr. darkocean002 for an honest insight into the situation. You tell the truth, man. dan fulani.
Posted: at 24-05-2011 09:36 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
;)
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