The newly appointed
International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Chief-of-Mission, Frantz
Celestin, yesterday disclosed that the organization has facilitated the return
of 9, 888 Nigerian voluntary returnees
from different parts of the world.
Celestin made this
revelation during a visit to the NAPTIP Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
His words: “IOM has
facilitated the return of nine thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eight Nigerian
voluntary returnees from different parts of the world, and most recently,
Libya. We promise increased collaboration with NAPTIP, especially as it regards
assistance to the returnees who are victims of human trafficking.”
Celestin, who came in
the company of Saskia Kok and Elizabeth Poage, both from IOM, informed the
Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah- Donli, that the visit was part of
his familiarization meetings with relevant partners and stakeholders tasked
with curbing irregular migration and human trafficking in Nigeria.
In what he tagged “a
new beginning in the renewed partnership between NAPTIP and IOM”, Mr. Celestin
promised to support “NAPTIP’s priorities in their programmes”, and pledged to
consult the Agency from the beginning of every project that involves combating
human trafficking and irregular migration in Nigeria.
In her remarks, the
Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, congratulated him on his new
position, and commended the IOM for the great job they are doing by ensuring
the safe return of stranded Nigerians in Libya who have indicated willingness
to come back to Nigeria. She further expressed her appreciation to IOM for
their assistance to the Agency over the years, which include donating and
equipping the first shelter operated by NAPTIP, assistance in setting up and
take-off of the NAPTIP Lagos Zonal Command, and several capacity building
trainings for Officers of the Agency.
She encouraged them to
also beam their light on Mali and other West African Countries where Nigerians
are stranded in their numbers, a lot of them victims of human trafficking and
irregular migration. The NAPTIP boss further enjoined IOM to come to the rescue
of Nigerians trapped in exploitative labour conditions in Saudi Arabia, Oman,
United Arab Emirates, and other Middle East Countries.
According to the
Director-General, “thousands of Nigerian girls and young women who went to
Saudi Arabia and Oman under the guise of domestic workers are living in
slave-like conditions, and they cry out daily for help”. She added that NAPTIP
should be fully involved in the rehabilitation and reintegration of the
returnees who are victims of human trafficking. This, according to her, is to
ensure proper and effective implementation of the reintegration and rehabilitation
programme, and adequate monitoring and evaluation.”
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