How Nigerians set $36 million from outside the country this year

- Nigeria is the 5th largest recipient of remittances in the world

- In 2016 alone, Nigerians abroad sent $35 million home

- This was an increase from $21 million sent in 2015

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Chief of Mission, Enira Krdzalic in 2016 the remittances from Nigerian migrants have increased to about $35 million dollars.

Speaking on Tuesday, December 20, during the annual migration dialogue in Abuja to mark this year’s International Migrants Day, Krdzalic said according to the World Bank reports, there has been an increase of remittances of Nigerian migrants from $21 million in 2015.

According to her Nigeria has the second largest amount of remittances in Africa and ranked the fifth largest recipient of remittances in the world from its citizens who sent home money to relatives and friends.

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She also said: “According to the World Bank report, remittances have reached levels nearly three times higher than official development corporation funds with global figures of remittances still expected to grow.

“Remittances have been expected to grow at an average of 8 per cent annually in the period from 2013 to 2016, to about 700 billion dollars in 2016."

She also reiterated that migration did not have negative impacts on nations but also had positive impacts when done through the due process.

Speaking at the same event, Abdulrahman Dambazau the Minister of Interior, , said that migration was not a crime, that it in fact was necessary for healthy integration and development of nations.

"It becomes a challenge when it is done illegally, desperately and dangerously which is why the focus should be on measure to address and manage the scourge of illegal migration.”

He said if not properly managed, people would use the opportunity to perpetuate criminal acts like human trafficking, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking among others.

Also speaking, Abike Dabiri, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, said there should be sensitization and stringent measures to discourage youths on illegal migration.

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She said Nigerians should be dissuaded from going through hostile circumstances in a bid for greener pastures as “the other side is not as green as they think”.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Thursday, February 4 by the public relations officer of the service, Ekpedeme Kings, the approval for the recruitment of 5, 000 officers by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), was obtained under the immediate past administration of Jonathan since 2012, but was still pending.