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COVID-19: Forum urges African leaders to halt irregular migration system

Razaq Bamidele

The Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM) has called on the African leaders to change the tide of irregular migration from the continent to other nations through economic reactivation.

JIFORM, in communiqué after its recent on-line summit, admonished countries to copy the home grown technology being deployed, in Senegal, to the spread of COVID-19 by inventing ventilators and other test kits instead of waiting for help from advanced nations.

The three-day event with the theme: ‘Migration, Post COVID-19 Era: The Role of  stakeholders’, was the second edition of the virtual engagement organised by the Forum.

The summit was to update its over 150 members across the continents reporting migration and championing advocacy against irregular migration, human, trafficking and crises leading to the internal displacement of citizens in nations.

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Participants at the event, according to the communique included International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Gambia, Shingirai Vambe, Journalist and the Publisher of The Post on Sunday, Zimbabwe, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).

Others are former President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Abdul-Waheed Odusile and the Rector of Villanova Polytechnic, Imesi-Ile, Osun State, Prof. Kanu Ikechukwu Anthony.

President/ Executive Director of JIFORM, Ajibola Abayomi, while sharing details of the report in a statement said, “It has become imperative to sensitise our members and the public on the implications of COVID-19 on the economy, migration and what should be done to safe

guard nations post the pandemic era.

“We are of the belief that the reality of the current situation should humble especially the African continent to have a rethink on quality governance.

“For years, the leadership on the continents had embraced corruption as a way of life by abandoning investment in agriculture, education, infrastructure, commerce and industry, health and social security for the masses.

“While we are convinced that the pandemic days are numbered if all health procedures and scientific steps are adopted, JIFORM salutes the courage of health workers, the media and all organisations striving to put the current situation under control. However, Government as a matter of urgency should give direct palliatives to the citizens and businesses through transparent processes beyond what is being witnessed where lockdown are effected.

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“Thus, we are demanding that journalists should be listed among the front liners at this critical period and all necessary palliatives, financial supports and insurance packages should be provided for them and other volunteers monitoring the disease.”

Abayomi added that it was expedient for many African nations to stem the tide of irregular migration, by encouraging local or home industrialisation in order to provide jobs for the teeming youths and lessen dependency on foreign goods.

Other recommendations from the JIFORM summit are as follows:

1. Nations should adopt inclusive approach to include provision for

the health care for migrants irrespective of their status whether regular or irregular.

2. Nations should avoid the stigmatization of migrants as carriers of the disease.

3. Governments in Africa especially in Nigeria should ensure timely evacuation of citizens that had expressed the desire to return home during the current pandemic irrespective of their migrants’ status.

4. Nations should go beyond lip service to agriculture development and evolve policies and schemes that would encourage farmers to grow food bank as alternative to importation of food, especially in Africa.

5. Employers should explore possibility of employment terms renegotiation with loyal and dedicated employees instead of terminating their appointments. We must emphasise employers’ loyalty as this has great consequences on the future of every organisation.”

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