The All Progressives Congress has condemned what it described as the “unfortunate attempt” by the Peoples Democratic Party to politicise President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement on the illegal migration and trafficking of Nigerians during the visit of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to Nigeria.
The party said this in a statement by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, on Sunday.
It said: “The PDP in its typical insensitive and unguarded stance on matters affecting the country is exploiting an issue that bother on the lives of Nigerians (mostly youth). It is a known fact that many Nigerian families have suffered grief as a result of deaths and other inhuman treatment that have befell relatives attempting migration to Europe and other parts of the world.
“Through support of international agreements/efforts towards curbing illegal migration, repatriation of stranded Nigerian migrants and addressing root causes encouraging illegal migration of Nigerians, the President Buhari administration has demonstrated the political will to check the scourge.
“The pains and suffering most Nigerians go through with the hope of reaching Europe has been well reported. Through relevant agencies, the President Buhari administration has continued to mitigate the migration crisis, particularly in Libya and Mediterranean Sea.
“Nigerians will recall the presidential directive for Nigerians to be evacuated from Libya and other locations and be returned home safely. Already in place are several interventionist programmes of the federal government to enable them start new and productive lives.
“With unemployment and poverty identified as one of the root causes of illegal migration, the President Buhari administration is using initiatives like N-Power, Bank of Industry Youth Entrepreneurship Support, Central Bank of Nigeria support schemes, Agriculture, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.”
