The Federal Government has launched a nationwide Sensitisation Programme Against Irregular Migration aimed at educating Nigerian youth on the dangers of illegal migration and promoting sustainable opportunities within the country.
This was contained in a statement signed by Omolara Esan, Director of Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, on Sunday.
The Southern Zone edition of the programme was held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, from 3rd to 4th October 2025. It brought together key stakeholders from government institutions, security agencies, and civil society organisations to address the growing challenge of irregular migration among Nigerian youth.
Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, the Head of Migration and Climate Action Department, Ms Grace Leleh, described irregular migration as a worsening crisis caused by unemployment, insecurity, economic hardship, and misinformation about life abroad.
She explained that thousands of young Nigerians continue to fall victim to human trafficking, forced labour, organ harvesting, and modern slavery while attempting dangerous journeys through routes such as the Mediterranean.
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to reversing this trend through strategic youth empowerment programmes aligned with the National Youth Policy (2019). These include vocational and skill development training to promote self-reliance, Waste-to-Wealth initiatives to enhance economic empowerment, and work experience programmes to bridge the education and employment gap.
Other initiatives mentioned are the ₦110 billion National Youth Investment Fund supporting young entrepreneurs, agricultural innovation and start-up grants, and the establishment of Youth Development Centres and Youth Villages across all 774 local government areas. The policy also includes 30% youth inclusion in governance and nationwide programmes on digital literacy, health, entertainment, climate action, and data protection.
“These interventions are designed not only to deter irregular migration but to provide viable, home-grown opportunities for young Nigerians to succeed within their own country,” the Minister stated.
In his goodwill message, the Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olanrewaju Ogunyinka, stressed the importance of urgent collective action to address irregular migration. “Irregular migration endangers lives, drains human capital, and undermines national development. We must collectively protect our youth from these risks,” he said.
Representing the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs Jimoh Abosede cautioned that young people, especially students and job seekers, are the most vulnerable to traffickers who lure them with false promises of prosperity abroad. “We urge all young Nigerians to verify travel offers and avoid secret arrangements that could endanger their lives,” she advised.
Also speaking, CSI Olajide Osifeso, representing the Ogun State Controller of Immigration, noted that while the desire for a better life is understandable, unsafe migration routes are dangerous. “Seeking a better life is not a crime,” he said, “but doing so through illegal means is a perilous gamble that often ends in tragedy.”
The sensitisation campaign will continue nationwide, reinforcing the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youth and protecting them from the dangers of irregular migration.