FG Seeks to Halt Illegal Migration
…Calls for Chosen Travel for Nigerians
By Patience Ikpeme
The federal government has expressed its desire for Nigerians to travel by choice and not become a burden to their host countries. This aspiration was articulated by Senator Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, in Abuja over the weekend.
The Minister revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is determined to address the nation’s economic realities. “Mr President said we must confront our realities. This includes halting distortionary policies and generating more resources to provide the infrastructure that will stimulate inclusive growth, stabilising our economy,” he stated.
Bagudu added that, “We mean business. Therefore, we do not want our children to be a burden anywhere in the world. We want them to choose where they live freely.” He explained that the ongoing economic reforms are designed to stabilize and strengthen the economy, enabling the nation’s youth to travel based on their preference.
Nigeria is keen to collaborate with any country in the fight against illegal migration, Senator Abubakar Bagudu conveyed to the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Guschelbauer, during a high-level meeting over the weekend in Abuja.
“We, more than anyone else, wish to halt illegal migration because it distorts legal migration,” he told Ambassador Guschelbauer.
Other dignitaries who attended the meeting included Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Ms. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs; and Mr. Michael Spindelegger, Director-General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.
Bagudu argued that confronting the reality of illegal migration would send a positive signal to both domestic and international investors.
