According to Muhammad Babandede, a former Controller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, illegal migration and human trafficking have increased in Nigeria because the nation lacks legislative measures to prevent citizens from leaving.
He held the view that if there were good leaders who were dedicated to doing what was right for the people, the tendency might be reversed.
He emphasized the necessity for the media, civil society, and law enforcement agencies to collaborate in order to fight the crime, but noted that Nigeria does not have any law to stop anybody from living the country.
During a one-day national learning, experience sharing, and policy brief distribution on preventing human trafficking and dangerous migration in Abuja, Babandede made these remarks.
The Women Aid Collective organized the event under the auspices of the project “Scaling up prevention of human trafficking and unsafe migration through traditional and new approach,” which is overseen by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Government.
In his words
“Trafficking is not only a matter of crime, good governance is a major issue. I could remember when we started NAPTIP, my young daughter, who is also now a mother used to ask me, do they try to pick people from London to Nigeria?
“And that was a big question for me because it doesn’t happen. I believe if we continue to have leaders who are committed to doing good for the people, I am sure trafficking will reduce in Nigeria.
“Nigeria does not have laws to stop people from leaving. Some strict countries in the world have what we called exit visas, which means before you leave the country, you need to get a visa to leave. But Nigeria does not have an exit visa, which means that any immigration officer or law enforcement officer at the border must allow anyone who has a visa to leave the country otherwise you get a court case.”
