According to the National Human Rights Commission, the principal causes of irregular migration, trafficking, and smuggling of migrants are poverty, inequities, conflict, and human insecurity.
According to the commission, human rights are at the heart of migration and must be safeguarded under international best practices.
On Tuesday, the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, disclosed this in Abuja during a training of NHRC staff on human rights and migration.
According to Agharese Arase, Ojukwu, Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages Department, there is a need to adopt a human rights-based strategy in dealing with migration concerns because it extends to other core human rights.
“The Human Rights Advocate regretted that in our world today, migrants face dehumanizing conditions, illegal arrests, prolonged detention, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, life-threatening conditions on land and sea and that such occurrences should be the concern of stakeholders.
“The NHRC Boss called on stakeholders including law enforcement agencies pay more attention to irregular migration and smuggling across our borders, adding that “it is important that we do not lose sight of trafficking within Nigeria”, considering its socio-economic and human rights implications.
“He promised that the Commission will continue to work with partners within and outside government to strengthen policies and practices that impact on the human rights of migrants and victims of trafficking and smuggling of migrants, “the statement added.
