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Federal Government identifies unemployment, corruption as underlying factors in migration, trafficking

By Oludare Richards, Abuja
11 August 2016   |   1:53 am
Government has identified Terrorism and Corruption as major underlying factors in issues concerning trafficking, criminality and migration from Nigeria. Minister of Justice and Attorney General ...
Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami

Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami

.• Nigeria to strengthen ties with Italy on justice reforms

Government has identified Terrorism and Corruption as major underlying factors in issues concerning trafficking, criminality and migration from Nigeria.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), made this known at a meeting with an Italian delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentlioni Silveri, recently in Abuja.

The minister, in a statement disclosed through his Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Salihu Isah, said the meeting with the Italian delegation was on the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation between the judicial systems of both countries.

Malami emphasised on the need for effective cooperation in order to reduce incidents of human trafficking and other associated crimes and explained that unemployment in Nigeria had been a major cause of incessant migration of Nigerians to Italy.

He reminded the Italian delegation that agreements between Nigeria and Italy had already been negotiated and was ready for execution in areas including: mutual legal assistance, transfer of prisoners and extradition agreements and urged them to identify the timeline and venue for the execution of the agreements.

He expressed appreciation to the Italian Government in its support to the country, as well as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), requesting further assistance to strengthen NAPTIP skills and capacity.

The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentlinoni Silveri, in his response, affirmed that they were perfectly aware of the connection between criminality, human trafficking and migration.

He advised that the AGF could seize the opportunity to decide on the finalisation of the agreements, on the three issues raised at the meeting.

The Italian Minister further stressed that the purpose of their visit to the Ministry in Abuja, was to seek collaborative efforts with Nigerian Government in the following areas including: the need to strengthen political, economic relationship between Nigeria and Italy, the need to manage migration especially, migration through Nigeria to Libya and to Italy and also the need to control human existence.

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