WHAT MIGRATION CONTROL SERVICES AGENCY MEANS BY PRINCE MICHAEL NKU ABUO

The newly appointed Director-General, Cross River State Migration Control Services Agency (MCSA), Prince Michael Nku Abuo, has hit the ground running as he gave a clear, deeper and broad insight into the scope and responsibilities of his new office.

Abuo’s appointment by Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade as the first Director-General of the new office was announced on Monday in a press releases signed by the special adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita.

The pioneer DG of the Migration Control Services Agency, whose appointment takes immediate effect, has used his verified Facebook page to explain the role of his new office, the scope of operation and the attendant benefits to the state and her citizens.

This is no doubt a great start…

Read his full post below…

What is Migration Control Services Agency?( While my result by God’s grace will speak for me in the discharge of my new office, I wish to provide these info for purposes of publicity,clarification and orientation)

Migration is simply the movement of persons from one point to another, which could be within/local(a country) or international (outside a country) with the sole purpose of settling down there temporarily or permanently. This is influenced by several factors from economical to social and from political to religious.

What some people do not understand is that migration has both it positive and negative sides. For example in a report in 2019 remittance of Nigerians in diaspora contributed to over 5 percent of Nigeria’s GDP.

The negative part about migration is the fact that those who seek to engage in same illegally, ill adviced and prepared become victims of trafficking, others are killed and organs harvested while some are duped, killed or die in the process of illegal migration.

There’s also a security and health implications of migration as a porous system can see to increase in crime by foreigners and or introduction of health risk etc if not properly checked the case of Ebola and the recent corona virus is an eye opener.

Globally the issue of migration is a hot cake as this topic in Europe and other developed nation has seen to the rise and fall, support or criticism of government and several intervention funds set up to address the trend of illegal migration.

Now Cross River State as a state has border with Cameroun and Equitorial Guinea via the Atlantic Ocean and within Nigeria borders Benue, Abia, Always Ibom and Ebonyi. Therefore Cross River State aside it location, the fertility and hospitality of her people makes her a hot spot for local and international migration. The crisis in the northern part of Nigeria and the middle belt as well as the civil war in Cameroun and the Bakassi imbriglio has seen to migrants who are internally displaced people,IDP and refugees pouring into the state.

In an interaction with the state controller of immigration I was amazed at certain security revelation that isn’t too good due to foreign elements perpertrating crimes within the state. It is also no longer a secret that most of the so called kidnappings within the state is done by certain migrants with local collaborators. So we also have issues of trafficking of goods and foreign nationals who serve as prostitutes within brothels in Calabar, Ikom etc. We are also faced with local migration as most of our youths leave our state en masse in search of greener pastures in bigger cities and most time end up as destitutes. These are the issues and trend we will end!

Therefore, the Migration Control Services is tasked with the responsibility of addressing the negatives and exploiting the positives of migration in partnership and collaboration with local, national and international partners in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Policy on Migration within and outside the state. Yes, our services will extend beyond the state, because it is the responsibility of our government to also serve and protect our citizens outside the state and offer paid services too to those within and outside the state.

How do we as a state intend to achieve the above specifics? Here’s how:

1. Work out modalities for the passage of an executive bill on Migration Control Services.

2.Setting up an antitrafficking and illegal migration task joint force comprising of paramilitary, military and civilians to deepen reach in this regards. The Governor will himself inaugurate members of this team and support provided for their daily operations.

1. In partnership and collaboration with our development partners such as the International Organization for Migration, the EU and national organizations etc access and utilize funds to provide intervention services for refugees, empower youths via skills and financial support to address local migration and illegal international migration, provide support for trafficked victims within or of the state origin, create a comprehensive data base of foreign migrants/refugees in the state.
2. Facilitate legitimate migration and access to opportunities in the international community(EU, UK, Canada, US, Australia, Germany, Japan etc) like access to job opportunities abroad etc. This service will be handsomely paid for. There’s a huge gap in labour in most developed economy,with our partnership with most recruiting firms in Europe etc and database we will provide verified indidviduals with these opportunities.
3. Access fundings, create partnership opportunities with international and national platforms to boost our state economy and address potential issues that may lead to migration challenges.

So you see the Governor in his wisdom has created a template that will be copied by other states with local and or international borders. These efforts will not only compliment our nation’s national security but boost our economy and uplift our citizens and youths. We are open to suggestions and inputs to serve you better please.

To all who celebrated with me thank you, to those who couldn’t understand the depth of this agency, I hope you are convinced on the importance thereof and the undying wisdom and passion of His Excellency, Sen Prof Ben Ayade.

Prince Michael Nku Abuo, JP
Director General, Migration Control Services Agency
18/02/20