Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State is, without doubt, the most active Governor with regards to the rehabilitation of deportees from Libya and European Countries.
Some, however, argue that the Governor is only active because Nigerians who are involved in human trafficking and illegal migration are mostly from Edo State.
Governor Obaseki inaugurated a Task Force led by Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, aimed at rehabilitating the deportees in order to eradicate trafficking-in-persons and illegal migration.
Prof. Omorogbe said the State Government is worried about what people go through when they decide to travel to Libya illegally.
“As we have seen, 80% of illegal migrants are from Edo State so it has been a big challenge to us. If you want to travel, do it legally”.
On April 6, 2017, Governor Obaseki sought to know the statistics of deportees, so they could be included in Government’s plan.
“They may have no reason to go abroad any more since we are able to provide all their needs by creating job opportunities for them”.
Governor Obaseki, on June 10, 2017, also partnered the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP).
According to the Agency’s Director General, Julie Okah Donli, Obaseki said for every Edo State indigene, the State Government will take responsibility by taking care of their education, amongst other things.
“We are trying to appeal to other governors to replicate the same thing that the Edo state government has decided to do”, She said.
In August 2017, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Initiative for Youths Awareness on Migration, Development and Re-Integration (IYMIDR), also working with the Edo State Government, said 1,145 Edo State indigenes were deported to the Country between December 2016 and July 2017
President of IYMIDR, Mr. Solomon Okoduwa, said a health screening for returnees organized by the NGO in collaboration with the Edo State Government was successful, adding that the training programme including Poultry, fishery, among others organized for deportees, would be done in batches.
He lauded the approval by the State Government to pay whistle-blowers who expose the activities of sponsors of human trafficking in the State.
Governor Obaseki, while addressing a new batch of deportees on November 7, said his administration would ensure they receive vocational training, while those interested in pursuing higher education would be trained.
Welcoming the deportees, he stated that they should see this as a passing phase in the journey of life.
“You are back to where you came from and you will be taken care of. For the next three months, we will put you on a special stipend”.
At an International Conference on Women Empowerment and the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons, a partnership between Nigeria and Italy, Governor Obaseki said the Government was spending a lot to integrate deportees into the Society.
The Governor, in a conference organized by the President of Italian Chamber of Deputies, Ms. Laura Boldrini, in Rome, Italy, further solicited support from the European Union, the Italian Government and other countries affected by this menace to sustain structures established in the State.
“We acknowledge the fact that they are victims, and in many instances, they are entangled in human trafficking due to no fault of theirs. We are extending an open hand to them, and assuring them of support when they return”.
Despite all these efforts made by the Government, there are some deportees who believe the State Government is not doing enough.
Obehi Diamond, one of the deportees from Libya, said he cannot collect N20,000 as monthly stipend from Governor Obaseki, referring to the training organized by the State Government as out of point.
“That is no money, that is what I make in two days in Libya. What I need is money to start off. If I have my money, I will go to Lagos and start working immediately”.
He also described Libya as the best Country, saying there is no Country compared to Libya, in terms of ‘money and work’.
“In Libya, there is work; the problem is the lack of Government. If the State Government help me to open my shop, I will not think of traveling again. There is nobody that goes to Libya that does not have skills except the Benin boys. The Benin boys are lazy”.
Some consider such utterances by Mr. Obehi a show of ingratitude, keeping in mind that the stipend given is above Nigeria’s minimum wages and so many youths would grab such gestures from the Government.
