Switzerland offers Nigerian illegal immigrants $6,500 to return home

[Lekan]

Switzerland gives illegal Nigerians lifeline
By Ndubuisi Ugah with agency reports, 04.19.2009

Nigerians resident in Switzerland illegally, who are willing to return home, have been offered a financial life-line of nearly $6,500 each.

This was part of a Memorandum of Under-standing (MoU) signed between the federal government and the Swiss counterpart in 2004 on the Voluntary Reparation of Nigerians illegally residing in that country.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr Martin Uhomoibhi, said in Abuja, that “Under this agreement, Swiss Government has provided nearly $6,500 as assistance to nearly 1,000 Nigerians who want to voluntarily leave Switzerland to start a new life after their sojourn.”

According to the ambassador, the two countries are currently collaborating to ensure that the process of implementation conforms to the international best practices and standards on agreements.

He added that currently, there are more that 4,000 Nigerians resident in Switzerland.

The ambassador said: “They do not just throw this money at them; they ensure that they have a viable business model or viable initiative. The process of implementing these businesses is being monitored by the Swiss authority in Nigeria and the Ministry officials, and there are success stories. We are trying to encourage the Swiss government to identify these success stories and see how we can popularise them because it will do a great deal of confidence-building for both countries.”Uhomoibhi expressed the hope that Nigerians would not misuse this laudable gesture by migrating en masse illegally to Swiss in order to be given the grant.

He, however, said appropriate measures had been put in place to checkmate possible abuse.

“I hope this would not happen because this gesture has underscored the goodwill of the Swiss government and the swiftness of Nigeria’s diplomacy in entering into such partnership,” he said.

The envoy further noted that migration should not be seen as a negative thing as such an attitude could be counter-productive.

“Human beings have to move from time to time, and from one place to another. What is important is to ensure that such movements are legal, constructive and foster bilateral relations,” he stressed.

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