The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has issued a warning regarding individuals being lured into fake abroad employment schemes, emphasising that more than 1,000 Nigerians have fallen victim and are now stranded across various regions in Europe and around the globe. At the end-of-the-year media briefing in Maiduguri, Mr. Laurent de Boeck, the IOM Chief of Mission to Nigeria, issued a cautionary statement about the dire consequences of job scams. He emphasised that the unfortunate victims possess seemingly genuine migrant documentation, including fraudulent job offers facilitated by deceitful foreign employers.
Also, in 2023, the IOM worked together with the Federal Government to oversee the repatriation of 4,431 Nigerian migrants who were stranded abroad. Alongside this effort, they also offered support to these returnees, assisting a total of 2,853 individuals in their reintegration process. This support involved connecting them with various socio-economic opportunities according to their preferences. Additionally, the IOM played a crucial role in the North-East region by operating nine humanitarian hubs. Through these hubs, they were able to provide essential services to 6,773 individuals who were beneficiaries of 199 different humanitarian organisations. This fostered an environment of collaboration and coordination among these organisations.
About 2,311 ex-Boko Haram members were reintegrated into society.
According to him, about 2,311 individuals from the vast pool of 160,000 ex-members of Boko Haram terrorists have successfully undergone rehabilitation and have been reintegrated into society. However, 89 percent of these reintegrated members hail from Borno State, while the remaining individuals have dispersed across various states based on their preferred reintegration destinations. Around 3,000 individuals who were once feared combatants, alongside their companions, are currently in a state of anticipation as they await their verdicts to be held in Abuja by the appropriate judicial authorities.
IOM advocates for the segregation of individuals not involved in combat from those in combat in order to ensure that combatants are held accountable for their actions while non-combatants are successfully reintegrated into society. IOM has been operational in Nigeria since 2001, actively engaging through its primary office in Abuja and five sub-offices in Benin City, Lagos, Yola, Katsina, and Maiduguri. Its extensive workforce has remained dedicated to carrying out its mission. According to the IOM Chief of Mission to Nigeria, their operations encompass 30 states alongside the Federal Capital.
Humanitarian needs are given unwavering dedication and support.
Furthermore, in his explanation, it was made clear that the IOM establishes strong partnerships with individuals on the move, populations forced to relocate, communities, government entities, and international and local organisations at the national and regional levels. During the year 2023, the organisation showcased its unwavering dedication and influential actions in numerous areas to effectively tackle urgent humanitarian needs caused by conflicts, environmental climate disruptions, as well as the dislodgment of people in multiple states.
In a remarkable feat, IOM has managed to impact an impressive number of 127,075 people residing in 37 campsites across the states of Adamawa and Borno through their Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiative. This achievement encompasses the successful execution of various tasks, such as the establishment of six solar-powered boreholes, the creation of 402 shower and latrine areas, and the triumphant implementation of hygiene promotion campaigns that touched the lives of 37,266 individuals. These numbers elicit pride and satisfaction, as highlighted by the speaker.
171 countries are connected to the IOM mission.
Founded in 1951, IOM stands as the foremost intergovernmental body in the realm of migration, closely collaborating with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental allies. With 175 member states alongside another 8 observer states, IOM’s presence extends to 171 countries. Devotedly committed to advocating for compassionate and well-regulated migration, IOM fulfils its mission by delivering invaluable guidance and assistance to both governments and migrants alike. The primary goal of IOM is to support the well-organised and compassionate control of migration, fostering global collaboration on migration matters, facilitating the quest for realistic resolutions to migration challenges, and extending humanitarian aid to migrants in dire circumstances, encompassing both refugees and internally displaced individuals.
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