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The Federal Government has cautioned Nigerian youths against embarking on irregular migration, warning that the practice exposes them to grave dangers, including loss of life.
Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, issued the warning during an engagement with young people, where he stressed that the increasing cases of Nigerians taking unauthorized routes to Europe, North Africa, and other destinations remain a disturbing trend.
According to him, many youths who attempt to migrate irregularly face severe risks such as human trafficking, exploitation, sexual abuse, forced labor, and in many cases, death while crossing the desert or the Mediterranean Sea.
“The government is deeply concerned about the lives being wasted daily on account of irregular migration. Too many of our vibrant young people fall victim to human traffickers or perish on dangerous journeys in search of greener pastures abroad,” Olawande stated.
He urged youths to explore safer and more productive opportunities within Nigeria, assuring that the Federal Government is working to create sustainable avenues for employment, entrepreneurship, and skill acquisition.
Olawande further emphasized that while migration itself is not a crime, doing so through unapproved routes exposes individuals to avoidable tragedies. He called on young people to prioritize legal migration channels and to take advantage of government-led initiatives designed to empower them economically and socially.
The Minister also appealed to parents, community leaders, and civil society organizations to intensify awareness campaigns that discourage desperate attempts to leave the country illegally.
His remarks come amid recent reports of increasing fatalities involving Nigerian migrants attempting perilous journeys through the Sahara Desert and across the Mediterranean in pursuit of opportunities overseas.
