The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has allocated 10,000 hectares of land through the State Ministry of Agriculture for a Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Project in a bid by the state government to curb illegal migration.
The project is sponsored by the National Centre for Migration Policy in partnership with European Union.
The governor also promised to stamp out issues related to the state being a source, destination or transit point for “illegal japa” through the desert.
Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Migration and Homeland Security, ACG Segun Adegoke (rtd), stated this in Ibadan while briefing newsmen shortly after the maiden meeting of the Oyo State Reintegration Committee.
According to Adegoke, in a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser (Media), Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the committee has a mandate to address all matters of integration, illegal migration, prevention, advocacy, and to create awareness on the evil effects of “japa” through the desert.
He noted that Governor Makinde’s administration has zero tolerance for all forms of illegal migration, adding that the land has been provided in Iganna, Itesiwaju Local Government Area of the state, and that it will be under the coordination of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.
He explained that the Oyo State Reintegration Committee was inaugurated by the Southwest Coordinator of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
He said: “The committee was inaugurated by the Southwest Coordinator of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. The committee is in compliance with the provisions of Section 7 of the National Commission for Migrants, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Act of 2021 and Section 7.2 of the National Migration Policy 2015 of Nigeria.
“The committee basically is to handle all matters concerning the integration of returnees, migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons in Oyo State. So, it is part of the national migration architecture of Nigeria.
“We have members and you have to give it to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde. He has the vision. He is the only governor to have the Office of Migration and Homeland Security. There is no such office all over the states in Nigeria. They have different names but this is the only one for Migration and Homeland Security.
“Also, he has gone further as part of his efforts to create employment for youths. The Ministry of Agriculture has allocated land for a project sponsored by the National Centre for Migration Policy and European Union known as the Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Project, sponsored by the Denmark Government.
“Governor Makinde has provided land for that project; 10,000 hectares in Iganna, Itesiwaju Local Government.
“So, under the coordination of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internal Displaced Persons, this committee now will be part of the steering committee to make sure that project sees the light of day.
“Eighteen percent of the beneficiaries are local indigenes. So, we make sure that only the bonafide indigenes of Oyo State and youth will benefit from that. That is the job of this committee.
“These beneficiaries are going to be engaged in agribusiness. They are going to be trained on mechanised farming. Funds are going to be provided for them, not just seed, funds and the markets. So, it is a total value chain, and Oyo State is at the forefront of it, giving all the necessary support.
“It is the passion and vision of the governor, and it should be commended because this will not only create jobs for youths, the local community will benefit from it also. And, it will stop illegal migration through the desert, because they say the idle hand is a devil’s workshop.”
Speaking further on the mandate of the committee, Adegoke said it is creating awareness on the evils of illegal migration through the desert, saying: “We are creating awareness on the evil effect of Japa through the desert. We don’t want our indigenes to suffer another form of slavery.
“We are saying you don’t have to Japa through irregular means. You can stay in the comfort of your house; for example, and apply for a United Nations job because the website is there.
“You apply and if you qualify, you will be shortlisted. Interview will be conducted and you will go for the mission. So, what we want to encourage is not that people should not Japa; there’s nothing the government has against it.
“So, in the next two years, issues of Oyo State being a source, destination, or transit state will be a thing of the past.”
