Youth minister laments needless deaths of illegal migrants

Minister of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim, has expressed concern over records of needless and avoidable deaths of irregular migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe.

Bio Ibrahim voiced this concern during a 2-day Awareness Programme on the Effects of Irregular Migration of Young People, organised by the Ministry in Benin, Edo State, Southern Zone.

She also lamented countless cases of organ harvesting, rape, child labour, kidnapping, and prostitution inflicted on illegal desert migrants, expressing deep concern over the growing trend of irregular migration among young people in the country.

Represented by the Director of Education and Youth Development in the Ministry, Mr. Kabiru Mohammed, she noted that the development poses significant challenges to the stability and functionality of societies and highlighted the negative social, economic, and cultural impact of irregular migration among youth.

Stressing the importance of urgent collaborative efforts to address and mitigate these challenges, the minister disclosed that the present administration, through the Ministry, is working tirelessly in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to curb the ugly trend.

“The Ministry has designed various empowerment programmes like the approved restructured National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), the Presidential Initiative on Youth Cluster, National Youth Skills Programme, the proposed construction of Youth Villages, Construction of Youth Development Centres Nationwide, and 30% affirmation action for youth to participate in government, among others,” she further stated.

Bio Ibrahim educated the participants on the concept of migration, informing them that Youth Development is a cross-cutting National Agenda and all stakeholders have a role to play in addressing the menace of irregular migration.

She added that the youth are the legacies of any nation and play a key role in national development.

In his goodwill message, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Edo State Command, MC Monyei, who was represented by the Assistant Comptroller, Chris Dodoh, said irregular migration has become a perilous journey for many young people, driven by dreams of a better life but often ending in tragedy.

He said the sensitisation and awareness campaign is a vital step in the collective efforts to educate and inform youth about the harsh and uncertain realities of irregular migration.

He added that it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to empower young people with the right knowledge, maintaining that: “There are legal and safer ways to achieve your aspirations and dreams, not at the expense of your lives or dignity.”

While speaking, Igbon Osedebamen, a participant at the event, said one important thing she learned from the programme is the proper classification of migration into regular and irregular migration.

She stated: “I now understand that regular migration can be measured, while irregular migration cannot be measured. As young people, it is time for us to reject this problem in our society that exposes us to a lot of danger and choose the correct way to migrate.”