The German government is set to deport close to 30,000 Nigerians seeking asylum in Germany, the Nigerian government has revealed.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa disclosed this at a programme; “Developing a mixed migration strategy for UNHCR Nigeria” in Abuja on Tuesday.
“Germany said it has about 25,000 to 30,000 Nigerians seeking asylum and they can’t guarantee they will get it. So, there is every possibilities that they will be returned to Nigeria,” she said.
According to her, the reasons for asylum by the Nigerians were not genuine as “some who are from the East and West are saying they are running away from Boko Haram while some others say they are gays and were having challenges expressing themselves in Nigeria.”
The SSA to the President said a date has not yet been set for the deportation of the asylum seeking Nigerians.
“Germany has set up a team working with the ministry of foreign affairs to see how the whole process [of deportation] can be made easier,” she added.
While noting that Germany is offering more scholarships and easier process of regular migration for Nigerians, she appealed to young Nigerians to watch out for those opportunities and take advantage of them.
“We are looking at the option of reverse migration also where you can actually stay in your country and enjoy everything you are migrating abroad to get,” Hon. Dabiri Erewa added.
She noted that irregular migration was no longer working as the foreign countries were also having their own challenges now.
She said the government was already doing much to tackle the issues that are encouraging irregular migration, adding that “we are fighting corruption, insecurity and trying to revive the economy.”
