ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has urged the German government to not deport about 12,000 illegal migrants into Nigeria, saying such a move will aggravate security challenges in the country.
Akpabio made the call on Wednesday when the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annette Gunther paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Gunther, in her address, said both Germany and Nigeria were large economies in Europe and Africa respectively, and as such could partner.
“We are honoured to be here today. Nigeria and Germany being the largest economies and population in their respective continents, need to come together in their peoples’ interests. Nigeria is Germany’s second largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa,” the German envoy said.
Akpabio noted that Nigeria was grappling with insecurity and called on Germany to work in synergy with Nigeria in the areas of security and power, to enhance the socio-political development of Nigeria.
The Senate President, then, urged Gunther to help Nigeria, Africa’s largest population in fighting insecurity as well as strengthening its economy.
He appealed to the German government to halt its move of deporting 12,000 illegal migrants of Nigerian extraction, as this could create more insecurity in the country.
“We also have a problem of infiltration from other countries. We require assistance from Germany in the area of security because when we had the Boko Haram issues in the North East, it might not have escalated to the level it did if we had the support of major players like Germany and others,” he said.
