Canada And Nigeria Working To Combat Migrant Smuggling, And Irregular Migration
Mr Marco Mendicino, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, today reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to fighting migrant smuggling, and irregular migration as a series of initiatives was unveiled in Nigeria.
On the eve of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, Canadian officials joined representatives from the governments of Switzerland and Nigeria as well as international civil society organizations to launch a series of initiatives to support the Nigerian government in their efforts to disrupt smuggling operation, as well as irregular migration.
Marco Mendicino noted that Canada is pleased to be partnering with Nigeria on three new initiatives to improve migration and border management, assisted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and ARK, an international communications company. Each organisation will participate in various initiatives being undertaken in Nigeria.
“The partnerships we are announcing today will disrupt the activities of migrant smuggling rings, and help to stop those who would take advanatge of some of the world’s most vulnerable for their own gain. Canada will continue to partners with world leaders in fighting smuggling operations to support safe migration, and strengthening data analysis and increasing awareness is an important component of that.” said Canada’s minister of immigration, Marco Mendicino.
The IOM will continue to issue the entry and exit border control system, known as the Migration Information and Data Analysis System, at the Lagos and Abuja international airports.
This will support Nigeria’s capacity to protect its borders by managing the flow of travelers into and through its country while helping it to identify criminal travelers and possible human trafficking and migrant smuggling activities.
UNODC will collaborate with Nigeria to counter migrant smuggling and human trafficking operations by identifying and responding to these criminal cases, through improved data gathering and data analysis methods.
ARK will use its communication expertise to assist Nigeria to develop its human trafficking and irregular migration deterrence campaign, through integrating and applying data analysis into its targeted messaging.
This is part of Canada’s commitment to fighting human trafficking around the world, which includes investing $4 million over the next two (2) years in the initiatives in Nigeria.
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