L-R: Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Peter Guschelbauer; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; Minister of Women Affairs, Ms Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; and Director-General, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Mr Michael Spindelegger, during a meeting with Michael Spindelegger in Abuja on Friday 30/05/25 PHOTO: FMBEP

Nigeria is keen to collaborate with any country to combat illegal migration, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has stated.

“We, more than anyone else, wish to halt illegal migration because it distorts legal migration,” he told the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Peter Guschelbauer, during a high-level meeting during the weekend in Abuja.

Other dignitaries who attended the meeting included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda; Minister of Women Affairs, Ms Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; and Director-General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Mr Michael Spindelegger.

Bagudu stated that the Bola Tinubu administration did not wish for Nigerians to become a burden to their host countries. He explained that the ongoing economic reforms aimed to stabilise and strengthen the economy so that the nation’s youth could travel by choice.

“Mr President said we must confront our realities. This includes halting distortionary policies and generating more resources to provide the infrastructure that will stimulate inclusive growth, stabilising our economy,” he stated.

He stated that confronting that reality would send a positive signal to both domestic and international investors.

“We mean business. Therefore, we do not want our children to be a burden anywhere in the world. We want them to choose where they live freely,” he stated.