In a recent address at the No Dull Moment in Islam (NDMI) lecture titled “Pros and Cons of Japa,” Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), shed light on the commission’s commendable efforts in facilitating the return of over 10,000 stranded Nigerians.
The statement was made during her role as the special guest of honour at the event, as reported by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa recounted how NiDCOM, in collaboration with various government agencies, orchestrated the repatriation of more than 10,000 Nigerians stranded in Libya, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Africa, Lebanon, and Germany.
She emphasised the plight of these individuals, many of whom had resorted to menial jobs abroad, some even sacrificing family inheritances, or tragically losing their lives in pursuit of migration.
Addressing the audience, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerian citizens, particularly the youth, to pursue international travel through legitimate means, both for personal well-being and to uphold the nation’s reputation. Despite acknowledging Nigeria’s current challenges, she emphasised that such difficulties were not unique to the country, citing similar struggles in other nations.
While recognising migration as a fundamental right, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa advised potential migrants to thoroughly evaluate their decisions before embarking on journeys. Furthermore, she called upon Nigerian professionals to actively educate others about the adverse effects of irregular migration and the importance of seeking employment opportunities domestically.
Highlighting plans for economic rejuvenation, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa mentioned reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration aimed at job creation and economic revitalization, aiming to mitigate the necessity for migration.
Also contributing to the discourse, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, provided insights into migration from an Islamic perspective.
