1,200 Nigerians died in seven months while migrating illegally - NIS

The Nigerian Immigration Service has expressed regret over the needless deaths and difficulties encountered by Nigerians attempting to leave the nation in an illegal manner.

Nigerians may travel overseas for reasons that are best known to them, according to the Comptroller of the NIS Ekiti State Command, Ademola Abdulrashed, but such travel should be "safe, orderly, and regular."

Speaking at the grand finale of the three-day 60th anniversary celebration of NIS with the theme of "Enhancing seamless regular migration" in Ado Ekiti on Friday, Abdulrashed said, "This Japa syndrome is a big challenge to those enrouting illegal ports of exit in the search for greener pasture."

He bemoaned the fact that many of our young people pass away in the Sahara Desert, the Mediterranean Sea, and other places, saying that it was not worth it.

"For those who survive, the hope of arriving at their intended destination swiftly turns into a mirage; some spend months or years in jail abroad for irregular migration; others are held captive by pirates who loot, maim, and occasionally rape the female 'japaists'.

According to the aforementioned, Nigerians who are interested in "Japa" are recommended to contact any of our offices across the country for the essential information and directions to ensure safe, regular, and orderly migration, the official said.

According to the Comptroller, throughout the past 60 years, the NIS has undergone a number of changes that have transitioned the nation from the analog to the digital eras.

NIS has made significant progress over the years in a number of operational areas, including the issuing of travel documents like passports, visas, and residence permits, border control, migration management, national security, and numerous others, according to Abdulrashed.

He commended Caroline Adepoju, the acting Comptroller General of Immigration, for deciding that a funfair was necessary to commemorate NIS's 60th anniversary.