Governor Alex Otti has called for an organised system to support reverse migration and reintegration of Nigerian returnees. Read full details here.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has called for the establishment of an organised system to support reverse migration in Nigeria, stressing that such a framework would restore confidence among citizens who wish to return home from abroad.
Governor Otti made the call while receiving the Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Nigeria, Ms. Sharon Dimanche, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Umuahia.
The Governor, who described migration as a two-way phenomenon, said many Nigerians in the diaspora desire to return home but are discouraged by uncertainty about where to begin.
“Some of them may want to return, but they are afraid of where to even start from. If there are organised systems to receive them, I am confident it will encourage their return. The initiative is a form of reverse migration,” Otti stated.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for sustainable reintegration, pledging collaboration with relevant ministries to design support programmes for returnees.
He further emphasized his government’s zero tolerance for human trafficking and related crimes, warning that Abia would remain uncomfortable for criminal activities.
“We have zero tolerance for any kind of criminal activity. Those who have decided to engage in crime have found out that this place is not comfortable for them. We are very focused on ensuring that all forms of crime and criminality are wiped away from this State. And human trafficking is one of them,” he said.
Governor Otti also underscored the importance of diaspora remittances, describing them as vital in supporting education, healthcare, and the state’s economic stability. He encouraged IOM to collaborate closely with the Abia Diaspora Commission, which annually convenes Abians across America, Europe, and Asia during its December homecoming.
To demonstrate his administration’s readiness, Otti directed the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu, to immediately provide IOM with a temporary office space in Umuahia, pending the allocation of a permanent facility.
Earlier in her remarks, the IOM Chief of Mission, Sharon Dimanche, outlined four focus areas of her organisation in Nigeria: combating human trafficking, harnessing diaspora potential, supporting returnees through sustainable reintegration, and improving migration data management.
She commended Abia for pioneering a Diaspora Commission and for the administration’s clear stand against human trafficking and irregular migration, assuring the Governor of IOM’s technical support.
“We are here to work. That work should start immediately. I want to see how we can consider establishing structures and mechanisms that would facilitate diaspora sending back money home and investing that in community infrastructure initiatives,” Dimanche said.
The meeting was attended by key members of the state executive, including the SSG, Commissioners for Finance, Budget & Planning, Poverty Alleviation, and other senior aides and advisers.
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