The Nigerian Immigration Service has expressed deep concern over the unnecessary deaths and hardships faced by Nigerians attempting to travel outside the country through illegal means.
The Comptroller of NIS Ekiti State Command, Ademola Abdulrashed, urged Nigerians to pursue their desires to travel abroad but emphasized that it must be done through safe, orderly, and regular channels.
Speaking during the grand finale of the three-day celebration of the 60th anniversary of NIS in Ado Ekiti, with the theme “Enhancing seamless regular migration,” Abdulrashed highlighted the challenges posed by the “Japa syndrome” – the trend of using illegal ports of exit in the quest for greener pastures.
He lamented that many young Nigerians lose their lives in dangerous journeys across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea.
In 2023 alone, at least 1,200 Nigerians have died attempting this perilous journey, according to data from the International Organisation for Migration.
In light of these risks, the NIS Comptroller advised Nigerians willing to travel abroad to reach out to any of their offices nationwide for necessary information and guidelines to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration.
Looking back on the achievements of the NIS in the past 60 years, Abdulrashed acknowledged the agency’s progress from analog to digital operations.
The acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Caroline Adepoju, was applauded for her decision to commemorate the 60th anniversary of NIS with a funfair. It serves as a reminder of the service’s dedication to its responsibilities and the well-being of Nigerians.
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