Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
Not less than 284 Togolese are now in Lagos, Nigeria, in search for greener pastures. The first set of Togolese, totaling 199 stormed Nigeria without the required papers last week. The Togolese who seemed to be very impressed with the living condition, called on others back home who stormed Lagos again last weekend.
The last set were 85, bringing the total number in Lagos, Nigeria to 284. The are currently being kept at Lagos Emergency Resettlement Centres (ERCs) in Igando, Alimosho Local Government area and Agbowa in Ikorodu.
But it appeared that they have overstayed their welcome in Lagos forcing the Lagos State Government to call on the Federal Government to prevail on its agencies, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Nigerian Immigration Service to take up their statutory responsibilities by relocating all of them from the state.
Secretary to the state government, Mr. Tunji Bello who made the call said that the state government can no longer continue to accommodate these illegal immigrants due to the enormous pressure put on the ERCs at Igando and Agbowa facilities.
He explained that the Togolese nationals were first sighted at Awolowo road, Ikoyi directly in front of the United Nations Refugees office, adding that immediately the governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was informed of their illegal presence at the location, he promptly directed that the relevant state agency should take up responsibility of accommodating them, initially at the Emergency Relief Camp (ERC) in Igando and later at its camp in Agbowa Ikorodu.
Bello further explained that the governor also directed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Immigration Services should be notified.
He added that it is surprising that these agencies have not taken any step to address the situation and that 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.
Investigations by the state according to Mr. Bello revealed that these Togolese immigrants were expelled from Benin Republic where they had lived for over 10 years.
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.
He said that at the weekend, another 85 illegal immigrants of same Togolese descent came to ERC, Agbowa, adding that they smuggle their ways through the Nigeria borders.
Bello warned that the state’s magnanimous hospitality to Nigerian 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, not illegal immigrants, during emergencies and period of disasters.
“These 2 emergency facilities as at today are seriously been pressurized and can no longer accommodate anybody. What becomes of legal residents of the state in case an emergency occurs, God forbid”, he said.
