AS many as 7,436 Nigerians entered the European Union (EU) illegally during the second quarter of 2015 according to figures made available by the community's border agency Frontex.
Yesterday in Abuja, Richard Young, EU's deputy head of delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), said that the figure was the number of irregular migrants that were officially recorded. He added that out of the 7,436 immigrants, 7,124 illegally crossed through the sea borders into Europe during the period.
According to Mr Young, the agency recorded a total of 170,155 migrants that illegally crossed the borders into Europe from various countries in the period. He disclosed that the EU had earmarked £1.8bn to set up an emergency trust fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa.
Mr Young added: “In this situation, they are referred to as irregular immigrants in the sense that they crossed the border illegally but may have a right of asylum. After all investigations are done and it is found that they do not have the right of asylum, then they are referred to as illegal immigrants.”
Trying the address the matter, the EU fund has been set up to address the crises in the regions of the Sahel, Lake Chad, the Horn of Africa and North Africa. One senior EU official said the funds made available by member states was aimed at fostering stability and contributing to better migration management in Africa.
According to the official, the forthcoming 2015 Valletta Summit on Migration would bring EU and African countries together to enhance partnership and find common solutions to illegal migration. He added that the meeting would build on existing frameworks of cooperation to address the root causes of migration, establish and organise legal migration channels.
Among other things, the meeting would also focus on ways to enhance the protection of migrants and asylum seekers as well as tackle exploitation and trafficking of migrants. In addition, the summit, which is expected to be attended by 34 African countries, will also improve on policies on the return and re-admission of illegal migrants.
“We have invited African countries and have agreements with on migration. Half of them would be represented at the levels of heads of state and government while the others would be represented at the ministerial levels.
“Out of 28 EU member states, 22 will be represented at the heads of states and governments. The African Union, Ecowas and other regional economic communities across Africa would also be represented at the summit," the official added.
Furthermore, the official reiterated the commitment of EU to assisting African countries in building stronger migration policies and addressing root causes to migration. Nigeria now has the fifth highest number of illegal migrants into Europe behind Syria, Iraq, Eritrea and Afghanistan.
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