May 30, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Rivers State Command, has cautioned Nigerian youths against irregular migration, saying that such movement can lead to deaths, arrest and detention at the destination or host country.
According to the NIS, despite the fact that there is no law barring youths from migrating outside the shores of the country in the name of Japa, irregular migration may take the lives of those involved, especially through unapproved and unrecognised routes like the high sea, using boats that carries overload that may sink on transit, attacked by pirates or other sea-related mishaps.
The NIS, Rivers Command, through its Comptroller, James Sunday PCC, in a statement at the weekend, warned intending irregular migrants that there are tendencies of being caught in a crossfire between warring nations, getting missing due to a sinking boat, spoilt boat, capsized boat, attacked boat and so many other natural and human-related catastrophes or mishaps.
He said, “It is no longer news that the word ‘Japa’ is a Nigerian slang or cliche used to describe brain drain or mass exodus or migration of individuals or groups abroad. There is nothing bad in Japa as much as it is done following due process. What I mean is the Japa person(s) must Japa within the stipulated process, using the right or approved documents for travel and entry into the Japa country through approved or recognised routes.
“For the purpose of emphasis, as much as you have the right documents valid for Japa, the onus lies on you to or not to Japa. There is no known law that forbids Japa, hence you have all it takes to leave for your intended country when you have valid travel documents acceptable to the host country, an appropriate or valid visa for the country and purpose of visit, residence with reserved accommodation and evidence of financial capability or sufficiency that will not turn the Japa a public charge on arrival or in the course of sojourn.
“It will sound strange coming from a professional in the field of monitoring and control of Japa, both regular and irregular Japa. But, since the law permits regular Japa, it means Japa is not a crime when it is done in a regular manner; the benefits are enormous as well as the disadvantages.
“The benefits to the country are in the area of transfer of funds in the form of foreign remittances from Japa country to the country of origin in foreign denominations or currencies, transfer of acquired skills, transfer of technology, better-educated returnees, wealth of experience gathered abroad, new and better understanding of the outside world, better ways of doing things, better earnings and financial empowerment, access to good health care and social services opportunities, conducive environment for productive and reproductive development and advancement, additional experience due to enabling environment etc.
“We earlier said there are benefits, which were enumerated but there are side effects such as tendencies to want to Japa by whatever means, which is dangerous and has negative consequences. Irregular Japa is dangerous to both the country of origin and destination or host. The irregular Japa may take the lives of those involved, especially through unapproved, unrecognised routes, especially on the high sea using boats that carry overload that may sink on transit and may be attacked by pirates or other sea-related mishaps.
“There is also the tendency of being arrested by the coast guards of countries of destination. These coast guards are always on patrol and surveillance assignment to protect their territorial waters and borders from irregular influx, sicknesses or sudden ailments both natural or sea-related, sexual abuse for females, unwanted pregnancy, abortion on sea and other health-related issues both for the males and females.
“The females on irregular Japa are mostly disadvantaged due to gender and dispositions, the tendency to lose valuables such as money, travel documents and lives while on irregular Japa are issues of great concern, lack of acceptance or refusal of admission by transit, host or destination countries, repatriation or deportation as the case may be, inhuman treatments by coast guards, pirates and other criminals.
“Japa, therefore, has two sides. The regular and irregular Japa. while the former may be widely supported, the latter is dangerous and not supported by any nation.”
He, therefore, called on the State and Federal Government to initiate programmes and policies to remedy mass Japa.
He said, “Government must make the environment conducive for survival, development, advancement, peace, progress and good wellbeing of its citizens. Citizens must be empowered financially, socially, educationally, and economically as well as politically without discrimination or segregation. Citizens must be well informed about national issues to gain their confidence and support always. It will go a long way in curbing mass Japa.”
