According to the Executive Director of PRAWA, Dr. Uju Agomoh, Nigeria media is awash with reports about the issue of illegal migration and its effects on Nigeria but there has not been to the best of PRAWA’s knowledge any structured initiative aimed at increasing the quality of actions to discourage Nigerian youths from leaving Nigeria illegally to United Kingdom and other foreign nations to match the frequency of media reporting on the issue, adding that media reporting on the issue is at best have been adhoc, irregular and short-term.

Dr. Agomoh said that a call has been made for ‘a massive enlightenment and reorientation for all Nigerians; first, to correct the misconception that life is all milk and honey in the foreign lands and secondly, that the so-called opportunities abroad do not justify the risks taken as illegal migrant.

Quoting the recent statement credited to the Nigerian ambassador to Morocco, Dr. Agomoh said that the Federal and State governments and every Nigerian should help “to enlighten our fleeing youth who only look to the prospects and allure of Europe rather than the danger involved in such an adventure.” She concluded.

The success of the project will be measured by the the increased number of Nigerian youths that has good knowledge and perception of the effects of illegal migration out Nigeria to either Europe or America and increased number of Nigeria youths who are trained on the positive life planning skills including career guidance and alternative to violence skills.

Some of the expected outputs on the project include the training of over 100 youths as peer educators and youth trainers on the; Effects of Illegal Migration and Life Planning Skills including career guidance and alternatives to violence and crime,reaching out to minimun of 3000 Nigerian youths with awareness of effects of illegal migration and with messages to enhance their positive life planning skills through community outreaches and youth support group activities. Also additional 500 youths are to be closely followed and mentored.

In- school and community based youth platforms such as clubs and networks for implementing the follow up phase of youths will created in Lagos, FCT and Enugu. Dr. Agomoh also revealed that beyond the trainings and capacity building components of the projects, that the project will also support follow up activities and engagement of the trained youths.The target of this to reach at least 500 youths and follow up on them during the first year of the project.

It is also established that the pilot school-based youth clubs and initiatives in the three locations will focus on creating awareness on effects of illegal migration, discouraging other youths against illegal migration and training them on life planning skills, alternatives to violence and entrepreneurship and Job creativity skills.

Analysts have proven that the problem of illegal migration is a critical problem facing Nigeria with a high number of Nigerians involved in this. This has had untold and significant implication to Nigeria and the receiving country. No fewer than 20,000 Nigerians are currently languishing in various prisons and detention centres across Europe for various forms of immigration offences such as incomplete or irregular immigration documents, overstay, drug-related offences, credit card fraud and some of these cases are widely reported in the in both local and international media.

In a related development, the rising rate of joblessness for new graduates and the general income inequality in Nigeria further create conditions for desperation amongst youths to migrate outside the country by all means. About 90 Million are willing and able to work in Nigeria but about 70 Million of them have no gainful employment out of a population of about 165 million. Of these, the worse affected are persons within the ages of 21-40 years

This trend affects the country’s capacity to initiate and sustain development. In addition to addressing the problems of unemployment and insecurity of life and properties, we need to carry out massive enlightenment and reorientation for all Nigerians especially the youths; first, to correct the misconception that life is all milk and honey in the foreign lands and secondly, the so-called opportunities abroad do not justify the risks taken migrating illegally out of Nigeria.