Featured Metro Politics News World News

We’ve assisted 18,000 Nigerian returnees in 20 years, says IOM chief

The International Organisation on Migration (IOM) on Thursday said it has assisted no fewer than 18,000 Nigeria returnees towards reintegrating them into the society.

The Chief of Mission, IOM, Nigeria, Mr. Franz Celestine, disclosed this at the 20th anniversary of the organisation in Nigeria.

Celestine said the figure was from the 22,000 the organisation had helped to return back to the country since its operations in Nigeria 20 years ago.

He explained that those assisted were assisted in areas based on their needs, such as the livelihood sector, education sector, among others.

He attributed the success in that regard to working with the communities, individuals, government, and traditional rulers.

According to him, we take a whole lot of society approach to the reintegration process to ensure that no one is left behind.

The Chief of Mission also revealed that the organisation started its operations in the country with just two desks, adding that 20 years after the staff strength had increased to more than 1,500.

“That is the testament to IOM calling and the work that we do as well as the needs that exist.

“The number of people we provide support to is extremely important”, he said.

He further said the IOM had experienced upward projection in terms of relationship with government.

“Similarly we have experienced upward projection in our ability to provide services, and strength of staff to do what was necessary to provide life sustaining and lifesaving support to the needy”.

Speaking on how the organisation weathered the storm during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Celestine said the pandemic brought the whole global challenges to the fore. He noted that in view of this, the IOM donors stepped up, and the organisation saw increase in its funding by 25 per cent in 2020 from what it was in 2019.

“The donors stepped up because they saw a need and came to provide that support, because it was then that everybody needed to step forward and put hands on deck to fight the pandemic.

“IOM had a comprehensive approach looking at the needs of the people, looking at the psychosocial support need and the economic side effect of the virus.

“And so we were able to have a multiple approach to respond to the virus.

“This, however, was not only from the pharmaceutical measures, but the non-pharmaceutical measures that allow the organisation to perform and provide the lifesaving services”, he added.

Similarly, Mrs Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General for Operations, IOM said that with migration, the organisation had been very much involved with helping and having proper documentation and screening that was needed.

Daniels also said the organisation had also been helping with irregular migration and returning people back to the country and helping them re-establish their lives, as well as helping with humanitarian services especially in the North East.

She noted that the major constraint by the IOM was funding to meet what the needs of the returnees were.

“But we have tried our very best with the funding that we have”.

She also noted that the present security situation in the country was another major challenge.

She, however, expressed optimism that in the next 20 years, the IOM would have been able to give more people hope that once they return back to the country, life was not over.

“That they can be established in the society, and not just re-establish but they can go on with their lives and have very productive lives and satisfactorily take care of their families.

“What we want is a prosperous, healthy Nigeria”, she said.

There were testimonies from some of the returnees, like Miss Aimalohi Adoga, who said she just finished her NYSC scheme and had been called to bar.

According to her, she voluntarily approached the IOM after going through emotional, physical and mental torture as a help in Libya.

She disclosed that IOM saw her through her remaining years in school and law school, after returning her to Nigeria.

Related posts

Customs intercept live ammunitions, illicit drugs in Enugu

Editor

SNEPCo’s MD Designate Wins Women in Leadership Award

Editor

Plateau killings: Don’t allow Nigeria become ungovernable under you, CAN tells Tinubu

Editor

No doctor is owed monthly salary – FG

Meletus EZE

With 614,000bpd June underperformance, Nigeria’s oil losses exceed $2bn

Our Reporter

Minister applauds MDAs on ease of doing business in Nigeria

Editor