Some Edo youth of Libyan migrant Returnees have cried out over what they described as alleged neglect and wrongful substitution by the International Organization, Nigeria of their names as beneficiaries of Italian government grants and demanded that those profiles and captured be given the grants to support their businesses.
They lamented that the development has further compounded their woes as they could no longer cope in continuing with their various vocation and called on the Organization to come to their aid.
But the Public Relation Officer of IOM, Francois -Xavier Ada, in an email he sent in reaction to the allegation however explained that the delay in returnees receiving assistance was due Incomplete documentation, diligence processes, change in contact which can cause communication gaps adding adding that IOM is committed to providing fair and transparent assistance to the most vulnerable migrants, including returnees and potential migrants.
The returnees also threatened to staged a protest to the Benin of IOM located along Boundary road to formally registered their grievances.
They noted that they were shocked that after some of the returnee names had been sent by Edo state Task Force Against Human Trafficking for empowerment by the agency only to discovered at the last minute that their names had been removed in a suspicious manner and replaced with fictitious names.
Some of the angry returnees told newsmen that they have loss their investment in fishery business due to lack of incentive and other support.
They also called on Italian Embassy and the Italian government to look into this matter critically in other to achieve the aim of their good intentions in Nigeria.
One of the returnees, Mrs Osaze Jimon, who owns a pond in a clusters at Edo Agricultural Development Programme, EADP under the Ministry of Agriculture lamented.
“I have already been profiled and pass through thorough screening by the IOM. They visited our clusters and my name is suppose to come out as beneficiary only for my name to be replaced with another person”.
Also, Uwaila Ogbemi, a visually impaired returnees corroborated Jimon’s position called IOM donors to other stakeholders to investigate the activities of the agency in Benin.
“IOM would not have opened office in Benin if not for the large presence of returnees. I was called severally and asked many questions only for my name to be delisted.
IOM noted, “The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with Edo State Government through the Office of the Governor is implementing the project Managing migration Through Development Project in Edo State (MMDP 2.0) from December 2022 to November 2024 with funding from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“In total, 225 persons (including returning migrants and vulnerable community members) are targeted to receive economic and social integration opportunities.
“As part of its activities, the project implements a rigorous beneficiary selection process in coordination with State Government authorities. This process includes
Referral of potential cases from State Coordination structures as well as civil society organizations.
“Once a person is confirmed for assistance, the provision of the said support can take up to two months. However, in the process of assisting beneficiaries, delays may be linked inter alia to incomplete documentation, due diligence processes, change in contact which can cause communication gaps.
IOM is committed to providing fair and transparent assistance to the most vulnerable migrants, including returnees and potential migrants. Ada noted.
