The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts in its fight against corruption and avoid wastages in governance.
The Benin monarch made the call, when he received a delegation from the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights, in his palace.
His Royal Majesty said Nigeria is rich in natural and human resources, which if adequately tapped by the Federal Government for the benefit of Nigerians would provide employment for the teeming youths and curb the menace of illegal migration and human trafficking.
The Omo N’Oba told his guests that the Palace, people and government were troubled by the incidence of human trafficking, which has assumed worrisome dimension in the form of modern day slavery. He appreciated the federal and state governments, as well as the international organizations for migration for their efforts at ensuring the safe return of Nigerians stranded in Libya.
The monarch admonished parents, guardians and youths to look inwards for better opportunities at home, rather than embarking on illegal migration and human trafficking. He said though it is part of people’s human rights to migrate to any part of the world, but it must be done legally.
While appreciating the good works of the International Organisation for Migration and NAPTIP, the monarch urged the delegation from European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Right to take the message back home that something is being done to tackle the problem in the state.
He assured that the people would continue to tap from the rich African traditional religion to solve some of the social problems.
Earlier, leader of the delegation from European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Right, Josef Weidenholzer told His Royal Majesty that they were in the country to establish better relations between European Union and Nigeria, adding that their interest was in migration and human trafficking.
He appreciated the Oba for his stance on illegal migration and human trafficking; pointing out that Edo State could become a reference point for improvement of relations with the European Union.
The high point of the visit was the presentation of gift to His Royal Majesty for the good works he is doing in Benin Kingdom and Nigeria.