Ned Nwoko urges immigration reforms and embassy vigilance to prevent Nigerians from unsafe travel abroad and protect national image.

Ned Nwoko Urges Immigration Reforms aimed at curbing unsafe and ill-advised migration by desperate Nigerians, warning that unchecked travel has led to tragedies, arrests abroad, and reputational damage for the nation.

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The Delta North Senator, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation, made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

According to Nwoko, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and embassies abroad have failed to perform proper due diligence on outbound travellers — a gap he believes contributes to the high number of Nigerians languishing in foreign prisons.

“Some Nigerians travel with no plan, just the belief that any way is a way. These are the ones who often end up in foreign jails or become public nuisances,” he said.

He described the situation as both a humanitarian and diplomatic crisis, and criticised embassies for allegedly colluding with citizens holding fake job offers or unverifiable travel reasons.

Nwoko maintained that the issue is not about restricting freedom of movement, but about safeguarding citizens’ lives and the nation’s global image.

“There’s a balance between safeguarding citizens and respecting individual freedom. The NIS and Nigerian embassies must never compromise their roles,” he added.

He recommended a multi-layered vetting process before any international travel is authorised. This includes verifying the purpose of the trip, cross-checking job offers, and engaging directly with prospective hosts or employers.

“If someone is travelling for employment, the embassy should call the company, verify the job, and ensure it aligns with the visa request. Anything less is negligence,” Nwoko stressed.

He also proposed a surveillance framework to monitor Nigerians abroad and prevent those with false documentation from obtaining visas.

The senator urged embassies to build stronger relationships with citizens overseas, pointing to how other nations keep close tabs on their diaspora.

His comments come as the Senate recently passed a resolution urging urgent repatriation of hundreds of Nigerian women and children trapped in Libyan detention centres, many of whom are victims of human trafficking and abuse.

The motion, raised by Senator Aniekan Etim Bassey (APC, Akwa Ibom South), sparked renewed calls for Nigeria to strengthen its consular protection, immigration control, and inter-agency collaboration on repatriation and citizen welfare abroad.

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Nwoko concluded by urging the federal government to see due diligence and diplomacy not as bureaucracy, but as tools for protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and restoring dignity to its citizens.

Source: Read more at punchng.com