Metro
Lagos seeks deportation of 199 Togolese immigrants
In from Olumide Olaoluwa …
Lagos State has urged the federal government to repatriate the 199 illegal immigrants taking refuge at its Emergency Resettlement Centres (ERCs) in Igando, Alimosho Local Government area and Agbowa, Ikorodu.
Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Tunji Bello, told reporters that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Nigerian Immigration Service must take up their statutory responsibilities by repatriating the immigrants.
He said Lagos state can no longer continue to accommodate the illegal immigrants due to the enormous pressure put on the ERCs at Igando and Agbowa facilities.
Bello explained that the Togolese nationals were first sighted at Awolowo Road, Ikoyi directly in front of the United Nations Refugees office.
According to him, the state government realised that these agencies have not taken any step to address the situation because the numbers of illegal immigrants from Togo have continued to increase by the day.
“As at today, the number of Togolese illegal immigrants has increased from 114 to 199, putting serious pressure on the limited spaces at the two camps,” Bello said.
He pointed out that the Togolese immigrants were expelled from Benin Republic where they had lived for over 10 years.
Read also: Noise makers! Lagos shuts down 24 religious houses
“They came to Nigeria, Lagos to be precise, and because of the accommodation provided by the state government at its ERCs, those illegal immigrants at the Igando camp started calling others on phone in Benin Republic to come to Nigeria, telling them that they now have a new home.
“As at the weekend, another 85 illegal immigrants of same Togolese descent were taken to ERC, Agbowa.
“The state has discovered that many of them smuggle their ways through the Nigeria borders,” he said.
Bello warned that the state’s magnanimous hospitality to residents and other lawful inhabitants in distress should not be abused or over-stretched as the ERC was built to accommodate Lagosians and Nigerian residents during emergency situations not illegal immigrants.
The SSG added: “These emergency facilities as at today are seriously been pressurised and can no longer accommodate anybody.”
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