The Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Ekiti State Command, Abdulrasheed Ademola, has revealed that no fewer than 1,200 Nigerians have so far died in 2023 through illegal migration to European countries.
The NIS boss who spoke during the 60th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the service, in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital at the weekend, tagged ‘Enhancing Seamless Regular Migration‘ described the “Japa Syndrome” in Nigeria as a big challenge to those going through illegal ports of exit in the quest for greener pastures.
According to him, “Many of our youths die in the Sahara desert, mediterranean sea and so on, which does not worth it.
“From available data from International Organisation for Migration (IOM), at least 1,200 Nigerians have died while trying to migrate through the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean Sea in 2023 alone.
“For those who survive, the dream of reaching their desired destination quickly becomes a mirage, some spend several months, even years in cells abroad for irregular migration, some are taken hostage by pirates who rob, maim and sometimes rape the female ‘japaists’”
Ademola pointed out that many Nigerians want to travel abroad for reasons best known to them, describing it as a welcome idea which must be embedded in safe, orderly and regular migration.
He commended the Acting Comptroller General, Caroline Wura-ola Adepoju for deeming it necessary to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Nigeria Immigration Service, underscoring that the past six decades have been a period of passionate service to the nation and fatherland.
The security chief said, “Nigeria Immigration Service has gone through a series of transformations, taking the country from the analogue years to the digital era.
“The agency has achieved a lot within these years in different areas of operations ranging from issuance of travel documents such as (passport, visa and residence permit), border management, migration management, national security and several others.”
