‘Japa is not bad’ — minister advocates review of Nigeria’s migration policy

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the minister of women affairs, says a structured approach to migration is necessary to safeguard the country’s security and national interest.

Speaking at the sixth International Conference of the Institute for Development Communication (ISDEVCOM) at the Nasarawa State University, the minister said migration itself is not a problem, but it must be properly managed.

“Migration, japa, is not bad. Migration is my area of interest. However, there is a need to structure migration to protect Nigeria’s security and national interest,” she said.

’Japa’, a popular slang in Nigeria, refers to the increasing trend of citizens leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim suggested that Nigeria could adopt a labour tax model for migrants, similar to the system used in the Philippines.

Revenue from such a policy, she argued, could be invested in national development projects.

She also commended Nigeria’s efforts in evacuating citizens from conflict zones in Sudan, Ukraine, and South Africa, despite the challenges involved.

The minister urged parents and guardians to prioritise legal migration pathways, warning that irregular migration poses risks to both individuals and national security.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim, a former federal commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, said she had previously advocated for a review of Nigeria’s migration policy.

She stressed the need for policies that protect Nigerians abroad while leveraging labour migration for national development.