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Hardship Forced Nigerian Migrants’ Return – NBS
A recent study by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that hardship is the leading reason why Nigerian migrants abroad return home, accounting for 47.9 per cent of the returnees.
This is contained in the “Awareness and Perception of Intending and Returned Migrants on the Dangers of Irregular Migration 20223 survey report released in Abuja, yesterday.
The NBS said a total of 2,400 households were sampled from six purposive states from each of the six geopolitical zones.
They are: Anambra (South East), Edo (South South), Lagos, (South West) Benue, (North Central) Gombe, (North East) and Kano (North West).
The bureau said the purpose of the study was to collect data and provide evidence on the awareness and perception of intending and returned migrants and raise awareness on the dangers of irregular migration.
“It study also seeks to highlight government efforts towards combating the prevalence of irregular migration in Nigeria.
“This evidence is expected to provide a database for policy formulation in line
with the increasing demand for data-driven human development initiatives” the report said.
The NBS said the 2022 migration survey expanded its focus to cover the two other vulnerable groups namely, Almajiris and House Helps.
“Key findings from the report showed that the average age of the respondents is 27 years, about 60.1 per cent of them are from the urban area and 51.8 per cent have attended secondary education”, it showed.
The study further showed that about 24.9 per cent of the respondents indicated engaging in business as the reason for traveling abroad, followed by 22.6 per cent whom said they went there to work.
Those who said they left for ‘greener pasture’ make up 21.4 per cent of the respondents.
However, the report revealed that a majority of the respondents, 48 per cent, said hardship forced them to return home. They followed by deceit at 20.1 per cent.
“This was followed by “no papers at 16.4 per cent”; `no job` at 13.8 per cent, and `crime` at 1.7 per cent. “
The study showed that Kano state recorded the highest number of returnees from abroad at 39 per cent, followed by Lagos at 20.7 per cent.
“This was followed by Edo at 16.7 per cent, Anambra at 11 per cent, Gombe at 8.7 per cent, and Benue at 3.9 per cent “, the report said.
The survey showed that 31.8 per cent said detention was the climax of their suffering in the course of their stay abroad. They are followed by 30.8 per cent who pointed at hunger.
The report said “deportation accounted for 15 per cent, slavery/forced labour at 12.1 per cent, and sexual abuse at 7.5 per cent. “
It showed that Edo state recorded 52.4 per cent of returned migrants who would want to travel back in spite of the risk involved.
“This was followed by Lagos at 14.29 per cent, Anmabra at 12.70 per cent, and Benue and Kano at 1.59 per cent. “
On returned migrants and the sources of assistance upon return, the study revealed that philanthropists constituted the majority of sources of relief with 24.8 per cent of assistance to returnees.
This was followed by Federal Government at 21.5 per cent, international organisations at 19 per cent, Non-Governmental Organisations at 15.7 per cent, and state government at 12.4 per cent.
“On the contrary, Civil Society Organisations recorded less than one per cent
of support to the returned migrants”, the report said.
The study revealed that 68.2 per cent of rural households and 31.8 per cent of urban households send their children or wards to Almajiri.
The survey showed that 98.6 per cent of the households interviewed sent their children or wards to Almajiranci to acquire Quranic education and religious morals.
“While those that sent their children because it is free of charge and those that see it as a religious obligation had 0.7 per cent each”, the NBS report said.
The study also showed that 47.7 per cent of the households who give out their members as house help do so because of hardship.
The NBS said the data was collected through National Integrated Survey for Households (NISH) which provides direct interactions with eligible respondents at the households using questionnaires.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.