Illegal Migration: 22,500 Nigerians Have Crossed Mediterranean Sea in 2016, Says EU

Alex Enumah

The European Union (EU) has put the number of illegal migrants from Nigeria that crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Europe between January and September this year at 22,500, stating that the figure is not only worrisome but one that requires urgent attention by all.

The EU, while disclosing plans by the union to tackle economic factor which has been blamed for such suicidal mission by Africans and other nationalities, stated that over 3,700 people have drowned trying to cross the Mediterranean with a ratio of 1 in 50 people.

The Deputy Head of EU Delegation in Nigeria, Mr. Richard Young, who disclosed this yesterday during a seminar on how the EU works, organised for Diplomatic and Foreign Affairs Correspondents in Abuja, warned that if the activities of illegal migrant is not checked, it would adversely affect the chances of people who have genuine cause to travel into Europe.

Young expressed concern that the number of Nigerians taking dangerous adventure through Mediterranean to Europe within the last nine months in 2015 is higher than those who did in 12 months in 2015.

Apart from Nigeria, the envoy stated that there has been huge increase in migrants crossing border without the right travel document to Europe from all over the world.

He said, “In 2014 the number of people traveling irregularly into Europe clinched 280,000 people, in 2015 it rose to 1.8 million in 2015. From January to September 2016 the number is about 420,000; we are expecting that the number will rise to 800,000 before the end of the year.

``Within this number people coming people coming from Nigeria in 2012 was 800, in 2013 the number was 2,900, in 2014 the number was 8,700 in 2015 the number was 23,000.

``And between January and September 2016 the number is 22, 500”. While noting that the issue of illegal migrant is beginning to affect the political and economic configuration of Europe, he warned that the situation if not quickly checked would also have a long impact on Nigeria - Europe relationship.

He said to reverse the trend Nigeria needs to grow her economy and create an enabling and bright future for her citizens, adding that the EU on his part, through the 3Rs strategy – Returning, Re-admitting and Re-integrating has earmarked billions of Euros to provide manpower development for the illegal migrants.

The resources according to him are been put together to help African countries address root cause of migration.