Human trafficking: Makinde to reintegrate migrant returnees

…train 700 youths in agribusiness

By Adeola Badru

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has unveiled plans to strengthen the reintegration of migrant returnees, including survivors of human trafficking, with a comprehensive support system that will also train 700 rural and returning youths in climate-smart agribusiness.

The governor said the initiative aims to restore dignity to returnees, create sustainable livelihoods, and address the socio-economic factors driving irregular migration and human trafficking.

Makinde, represented by his Special Adviser on Migration and Homeland Security, ACG Segun Adegoke (retd.), disclosed this yesterday at the “Stronger Futures: Survivor-Centred Reintegration and Cross-Border Policy Dialogues” held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

Presenting a paper titled “From Research to Practice: Government Perspectives on Reintegration in Oyo,” the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to collaborating with federal institutions, international partners, relevant stakeholders, and local communities to build a reintegration system that restores dignity, creates opportunities, and promotes sustainable development.

He said the Oyo State Government remains committed to combating human trafficking through sustained advocacy, public sensitisation and stakeholder engagements aimed at discouraging irregular migration.

Makinde explained that the Office of Migration and Homeland Security, in partnership with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and other development partners, is implementing the Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Project (YERP) to empower 700 rural and returning youths.

According to him, the programme will promote climate-smart agriculture, skills development, access to land, and sustainable livelihoods by allocating 10,000 hectares of farmland to young farmers across the state, through the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture.

He noted that the intervention is designed to tackle youth unemployment, one of the major drivers of irregular migration, while providing psychosocial support and economic opportunities to reduce the desperation fuelling unsafe migration and to protect survivors from re-trafficking.

Makinde said: “The true measure of migration governance lies not only in securing borders but in restoring hope, dignity and opportunities for returnees, especially survivors of human trafficking and migrant smuggling.”

He added that his administration has continued to implement awareness, prevention and reintegration initiatives in line with the reviewed National Migration Policy 2025 and the United Nations Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, while strengthening partnerships that promote safe migration and protect vulnerable citizens.

The governor further assured that his administration would continue to strengthen the Oyo State Reintegration Committee and other critical stakeholders as part of Nigeria’s migration governance architecture to provide coordinated support for returnees, including temporary shelter, socio-economic reintegration, skills acquisition, psychosocial care, empowerment and legal assistance.

He also urged residents of the state to pursue legitimate channels for employment abroad rather than exposing themselves to the dangers of irregular migration across the desert.

Earlier, the convener of the programme, Dr Sarah Adeyinka, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, commended the Oyo State Government for its sustained efforts to combat human trafficking and reintegrate survivors into society.

She said the programme was designed to support returnees in recovering from their traumatic experiences through collaboration with the state government and other stakeholders.

Adeyinka also urged parents, guardians and individuals to closely monitor their children and wards and discourage them from embarking on unauthorised travel or falling victim to fraudulent overseas job offers.

Also speaking, the Oyo State Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mr Kayode Alfred, praised the Oyo State Government for demonstrating strong commitment through its partnership with the agency and other stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking.

He stressed that human trafficking is not limited to international migration but also occurs within Nigeria, noting that individuals can be trafficked from one state to another for exploitation as a result of ignorance, deception and desperation.

Alfred urged Nigerians to exercise caution when dealing with strangers, especially those encountered online, warning that traffickers use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to lure unsuspecting victims with fake job offers, scholarships and travel opportunities.

Some migrant returnees, who spoke anonymously, shared their experiences and appealed to the Oyo State Government for greater financial and psychosocial support to enable them to rebuild their lives and reintegrate successfully into society.

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