The Deputy Governor of Abia State Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE has guaranteed the State Government’s support towards addressing the various dimensions of Migration challenges ranging from labor migration, border management, irregular migration, human trafficking, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) among other issues.
He made this guarantee during a three-day Zonal Capacity Building/Workshop For the review of 2015 National Migration Policy organized by National Commision For Refugees, Migration and Internally Displaced Persons ( NCFRM) with support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Engr. Emetu stated that Abia bounded by 7 States has tremendous role to play in migration management along the border lines and will support the necessary framework for policy review and implementation.
The Federal Commissioner, NCFRM Hon Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, who was represented by Ambassador Catherine Udida MNI- (Director Migrants Affairs) in her Speech explained that In 2022, the Technical Working Group on Migration and Development (TWG), under the leadership of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), initiated the review process of the National Migration Policy.
She stated that the importance of the Zonal workshop is to gather essential information, solicit feedback and address the complexities of internal migration, urbanization, security concerns and border management. The workshop convened stakeholders from the South-East geopolitical zone spanning Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, and the host state Enugu.
It is expected that the recommendations and reviews during this Zonal Workshop will be integrated into the National Migration Policy towards strengthening migration governance in Nigeria for broader national development.
Stakeholders in the Migration Framework who were also present includes; IOM Chief of Mission, Mr. Laurent De Boek, represented by Mrs. Ukamaka Osigwe,
Dr. Emeka Obiezu Coordinator of the Civil Society Network on Migration and Development, Commissioner of Human Capital, Ebonyi State, Mrs. Anne Aligwe, Commissioner for Women affairs Abia State, Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix, Prof. Igbatius Mmadu, Dept of Geography UNN among others.