Okpebholo Seeks EU Partnership To Tackle Irregular Migration, Support Returnees
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has called on the European Union (EU) and other international partners to support efforts to reduce irregular migration and help Nigerians returning from abroad rebuild their lives.
The governor made the appeal when he received an EU delegation during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City.
Okpebholo said his administration was working to address the factors pushing residents to leave the country through engagement with relevant stakeholders and efforts to improve opportunities within the state.
He explained that the government established the Edo State Migration Agency and the Edo State Diaspora Agency to coordinate migration-related activities and strengthen engagement with stakeholders at home and abroad.
The governor also expressed concern about the difficulties some Nigerians encounter while living overseas, stressing that migration should not expose residents to danger or exploitation.
He cited the return of some families from South Africa, urging them to view Nigeria as a place where they could start afresh and contribute to national development.
Okpebholo, however, acknowledged that the state government could not address all the challenges facing migrants and returnees without assistance from international partners.
He also said irregular migration from Edo appeared to be declining, although he did not provide figures to support the observation.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Edo State Migration Agency, Lucky Agazuma, commended the governor for supporting initiatives aimed at improving migration management and combating human trafficking.
Agazuma said the state’s approach had attracted interest from other states seeking to learn from its strategies. He urged the EU and other development partners to work with the government to strengthen existing interventions.
Similarly, the Director-General of the Edo State Diaspora Agency, Loretta Ogboro-Okor, called for greater collaboration to promote safe labour migration and discourage dangerous migration routes.
Ogboro-Okor praised the governor’s support for the agency, noting that protecting Edo indigenes should remain a priority, whether they live within Nigeria or abroad.
Speaking on behalf of the EU delegation, Franklin Nguendia, a Seconded National Expert and EU Liaison Officer, said the visit was intended to engage state authorities on migration-related challenges.
He explained that the delegation sought to understand the migration situation in Edo, identify gaps in existing responses and explore areas where cooperation with international partners could be strengthened.
The discussions focused on improving migration management, addressing irregular migration and supporting returnees as they reintegrate into their communities.
