Illegal migration: Caritas Nigeria seeks collaboration with stakeholders

Illegal migration: Caritas Nigeria seeks collaboration with stakeholders
NAN-HG-54
Trafficking
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Feb. 6, 2018 (NAN) Caritas Nigeria, an NGO, has called for strong collaboration among stakeholders to reduce increasing rate of illegal migration, human trafficking and brain drain in the country.
Rev. Evaristus Bassey told newsmen at the occasion of Saint Bakhita Day against the trafficking in persons in Abuja.
“Many Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) formed by religious groups have enormous capacity for project management and for transformative initiatives.
“In many parts of the world, government has partnered with faith based organisations because they are closer to the grassroots,” he said.
Bassey said there should be effort to cultivate these groups and fund them to engage youths in life skills such as building, household economic strengthening, and provision and management of facilities.
Other areas are health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene in rural areas.
He however suggested that government should get funds from people through an adjustment of the Value Added Tax (VAT).
“Nigeria’s current VAT rate is five per cent, and is one of the lowest in the world.
“Government can make an adjustment to 7.5 per cent and 2.5 differential in special fund for the exclusive use of NGOs especially faith based organisation.
“This will be one solid way in which government can show that it is ready for partnership with civil society organisation for purpose of development,’’ Bassey said.
According to him, each day scores of Nigerians attempt to travel out illegally some end up as carcasses in the desert or in the belly of the ocean.
Bassey advocated for collaboration with civil society organisations especially faith based organisations and development institutions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that every year Caritas Nigeria and the entire Catholic Church celebrate Saint Bakhita Day.
NAN also reports that Saint Bakhita was a Sudanese girl captured and sent into slavery, and eventually set free and brought to Italy where she became a nun.
She lived a life of devotion that inspired others and also patron of all trafficked women. (NAN)
OEO/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola