The Akwa Ibom State Government has expressed concern over the trafficking of innocent Indigenes out of the state for undignified labour and other criminal activities.
It added that such illegal migration and servitude was giving a bad name to the state.
The state Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, stated this during a courtesy call on him by the newly posted Comptroller of Immigration, George Didel, in his office at Government House, Uyo.
In a statement by his press secretary, Mr Ekikere Umoh, made available to journalists on Saturday, Ekpo noted that the state government was ready to partner with Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), to tackle illegal migration and human trafficking along its vast borders.
According to Ekpo, “trafficking of innocent Akwa Ibom people out of the state for undignified labour and other criminal purposes was an issue of critical concern to the state government because illegal migration of the people into servitude does not give us a good image and does not help the young people who at the end of the day may be victimized or killed.”
He, however, urged the indigenes to exploit the advantage of the new Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) travelling cards provided by the NIS for their cross-border trading and avoid illegal migration even as he urged Immigration to enlighten the people about the new travelling document.
Speaking earlier, the Comptroller of NIS for the state, George Didel, who was accompanied by his management team, said the aim of his visit was to solicit the support and assistance of the government to enable the state command to perform its duties effectively in the state, especially with the provision of additional boats.
