Migrant Smuggling: UNODC, Immigration Present Documentary, Urge Collaboration Against Menace
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in conjunction with the Nigeria immigration Service (NIS), have presented a documentary highlighting the issues surrounding Smuggling Of Migrants (SOM).
The Service’s Public Relations Officer, DCI Kenneth Udo, said in a statement on Wednesday that the documentary was put together as part of the efforts to sensitise the public on the trends and dangers of SOM.
The documentary titled “The Dark Web of Migrants Smuggling in Nigeria”, and presented at the Ministry of Interior, also had input from
ilead Africa, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) sponsored by the Canadian Government.
In his address, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, lauded the initiative and encouraged the NIS to continuously find ways to tackle issues related to SOM.
The Comptroller General of Immigration Service (CGIS) and Chairperson, Heads of ECOWAS Immigration Forum, Kemi Nandap, commended the UNODC and the Canadian Government for their continuous partnership and support in tackling SOM related issues.
She expressed the Service’s commitment to sustain advocacy and sensitisation, and collaboration with critical stakeholders as well as deployment of e-solutions to mitigate the challenge.
The UNODC Country Representative, Cheik Toure, assured Nigeria and the Service of more collaborative projects toward curtailing SOM and other trans-border Crimes. Similarly, the Charge D’ Affairs of Canada in Nigeria, expressed commitment to Nigeria/Canada partnership in tackling SOM related issues.
