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Desperation To Escape Socioeconomic, Security Challenges Led To Increased Migrants To Europe – UNHCR

Published

3 years ago

August 1, 2021

Editor

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says the desperation to escape from the dire socioeconomic and security challenges led to the increase number of migrants to Europe.

Mrs. Unyime Johnson, Associate Project Officer, UNHCR, made the remarks in Benin, weeknd, at this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, with the theme: ‘Victims’ Voices; Lead the Way.’

The programme which clamix with a roadwalk sensitization, Mrs Johnson urged youths to travel legally and through right routes.

She noted that reports from stakeholders and Nigerians who have returned home indicates that there are an increasing number of migrants desperate to leave the country by any means to escape dire socioeconomic and security challenges.

The Associate Project Officer opined that most of the migrants are bound for Europe due to lack of information and misinformation by highly connected personalities.

According to her, the development resorted to irregular migration and increase in trafficking cases as the personalities took advantage of their dire situation to lure them into facilitating their travels to Europe via the North African countries of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and in particular Libya.

The sensitisation roadwalk in Benin on Friday

“Although the Federal Government of Nigeria (GoN) has put in measures to counter trafficking in persons (TiP), Nigeria remains a country of origin, transit, and destination for human trafficking.

“Driven by the demand for cheap labour and commercial sex, trafficking rings across borders and within countries capitalize on economic, social and political vulnerabilities to exploit their victims.

“To further support and complement the efforts by the Federal Government, there is need for more collaboration among key government institutions, the civil society organization, and the United Nations in sensitizing the communities on human trafficking issues and where victims of trafficking (VoTs) can receive or assistance and access to justice services”,she added.

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Aigbeze Uhimwen, Senior Assistant, Project, International Organization for Migration (IOM), said in the fight against trafficking in persons, the IOM has set up legal hub in the states of Edo, Delta, Lagos to offer pro bono legal services to victims of trafficking in persons.

He noted that the legal hub which is aimed at enabling victims of trafficking in persons gain access to free legal assistance, prompt justice as well as necessary information was set up in collaboration with National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Edo State Taskforce Against Trafficking in Persons and other sister agencies.

According to him, voices of victims of trafficking in persons are key hence the IOM has been making sure their voices are heard.

Mr. Uhimwen, while noting that the IOM has made significant progress in the fight against trafficking in persons and irregular migration, appealed to members of the public to inform the IOM on any case of suspected trafficking in person.

A cross section of participants at the roadwalk

“We believe at IOM that the voices of victims of trafficking is very key, and IOM, up till today has supported victims of trafficking. We have set up a legal hub in collaboration with stakeholders such as NAPTIP, Edo State Taskforce Against Trafficking in Person and Edo State Ministry of Justice, etc.

“I just want to reiterate our commitment to providing safe migration in Nigeria,” he said.

On her part, Barrister (Mrs.) Chidiebere Orurou-Ifudu, Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Benin, said welfare of victims of trafficking in persons is paramount hence the agency has being making sure they are properly treated.

“At NAPTIP, we are saying no to trafficking in person; we say to the whole world that trafficking in persons is evil,” she said.

Related Topics:#NAPTIP IOM UNHCR World Day Against Trafficking in persons

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Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin

Published

10 months ago

July 22, 2023

Editor

Innocent Omoruyi

By Omokha Andrew

A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.

The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.

The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.

The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.

However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.

One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.

“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.

“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.

Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.

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Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports

Published

1 year ago

May 18, 2023

Editor

Nigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.

James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.

The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.

He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.

“In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.

Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.

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Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2022

Editor

The Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.

The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.

On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.

Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.

Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.

The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.

The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.