The Rate Of ‘Japa’ Of Nigerians Worrisome – NIS

Category:  Nigeria News

 

Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has expressed concern over the alarming rate of emigration of Nigerians to foreign countries describing it as a “worrisome phenomenon”.

The Comptroller of Immigration Service (NIS) in Enugu State, Mr. Joachim Olumba, made the disclosure on Thursday at a sensitization campaign on the scourge of Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) for stakeholders in Enugu State.

The NIS Directorate organized the enlightenment in collaboration with the International Center for Migration Policy and Development (ICMPD).

According to Olumba, said the situation is becoming a worrisome phenomenon.

“Indeed, this program couldn’t have been held at a more appropriate time, considering the alarming rate at which, not only the youth, but older generation of Nigerians exhibit interest to leave the country.

“This is creating a worrisome phenomenon which has come to be popularly known in local parlance as “Japa”, he said.

He said that Nigerians, especially the youth, were leaving the shores of the country in their droves.

“To many, what is paramount is to achieve the goal of migrating from the country and not the means of reaching their destinations.

“Whether they are smuggled or trafficked, or they even get to leave the country by means of a stowaway, does not really matter to them.

“The ultimate interest is to relocate to foreign lands. As far as the vast majority are concerned, the end will eventually justify the means,” he said.

The comptroller said that the desperation had brought unspeakable and unprintable hardships on numerous migrants.