Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has expressed his administration’s willingness to partner with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to redefine the national discourse on migration and displacement, promoting a more positive and inclusive narrative for Nigeria.
The Governor said this during a courtesy visit by the NCFRMI led by the Federal Commissioner/CEO, Hon. Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, today held at the Office of the Deputy Governor, Alausa, Ikeja, stressing that with the collaboration, the commission will be able to achieve a lot in terms of objectives
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said, “The commission can change the negative narrative of our country in terms of what a very small percentage of us do negatively, and some people who take advantage of our young people, who are unknown to them.”
While acknowledging the importance of the commission, the Governor expressed the willingness of his administration to offer it more support, “ As a government, we are willing to assist you with whatever you need, We want the support to be tangible and impactful, not only to the displaced or the migrants but also to the children across the country.”
Speaking further, the Governor charged the commission on advocacy of sign language, stressing that Nigerians must be able to communicate through sign languages when in distress, particularly signs on kidnapping, adding that such signs must be known by the general public, security agencies, airport attendants, and children.
He emphasized the importance of educating Nigerian youths about the realities of migrating to Europe and other Western countries, highlighting that these regions do not necessarily offer the promise of a better life.
The Governor added that the recent visa ban and all other policies put in place are to prevent Nigerian youth from indiscriminate immigration due to the wrong impression they have about Nigeria.
The Governor urged the commission to disseminate this crucial information that success can only be achieved in Western Countries, asking the Commission to collaborate with the state government to pass it on to stakeholders who interact with local communities. He said, “By doing so, they can educate families about the risks and prevent them from incurring debts or losing their children to ill-fated attempts to migrate overseas.”
Earlier in his remarks, Federal Commissioner, in charge, Hon. Tijjani Aliu Ahmed, stated that the purpose of the visit is to solicit the assistance of the Lagos State Government in hosting an upcoming meeting of African and European countries, adding that the meeting, scheduled to take place in Lagos in November, aims to address the issue of human trafficking on the continent.
Hon. Ahmed explained that the commission expects over 100 delegates from Africa and Europe to attend the meeting, and therefore, appealed to the state government for support in areas such as transportation, security, and other logistical needs.
According to him, the commission chose Lagos as the host city due to the state government’s demonstrated commitment to combating human trafficking, assuring that the agency will continue to collaborate with the state government to address this critical issue.
