By James Sunday, FCAI, MNIIA
The word amnesty means pardon. Where amnesty is granted, there should be no coercion, no use of excessive force, and no punitive measures applied. It is purely non-kinetic, a liberal window for transition, regularisation, and reintegration.
When used in the context of irregular migrants, amnesty becomes a flexible means of reintegration. It is important to recall the first Migrants E-Registration exercise that took place in 2019/2020, during which all resident migrants in Nigeria were expected to register. At that time, irregular migrants were given amnesty.
The Migrants E-Registration was designed with diplomacy, professionalism, and respect for the fundamental human rights of migrants, while also acknowledging internal challenges within the service that impacted migration management.
That initiative enabled a large number of migrants to be captured nationwide. It was a continuous program that provided ample opportunity for those concerned to regularise their status, taking into account prevailing realities, diplomatic considerations, the political climate, and global perceptions of such actions, especially since they involved foreign nationals.
However, sensitisation after the pronouncement of punitive measures can no longer be regarded as amnesty, particularly when accompanied by harassment or coercion at entry and exit points. Such actions defeat the purpose of a liberal and diplomatic approach to migration management.
The sensitisation and amnesty period were intended to allow migrants and their organisations to reconcile their documents, review applicable fees, and incorporate regularisation costs into their investment plans.
It is therefore not out of place to extend the amnesty programme to cover the safe return of migrants to their countries without harassment at entry and exit points, as this would prevent potential diplomatic backlash on Nigerian citizens abroad.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) can leverage the existing Migrants E-Registration platform to revalidate records, send reminders to companies and expatriates, and update immigration statuses—without duplicating efforts. This would ensure professionalism, accuracy, and an improved system.
Recommendations for Strengthening the Non-Kinetic Approach
To make the current NIS Migrants Amnesty Programme more effective, the following should be considered:
- Robust engagement with migrants, their employers, and other relevant organisations, alongside an extension of the amnesty period.
- Establishing efficient mechanisms for online payment, application, capturing, renewal, and updating of migrant records to support seamless regularisation.
- Ensuring a liberal and humane approach to enforcement to prevent extortion, harassment, or the excessive use of force by overzealous operatives at entry and exit points.
- Conducting broader consultations with key stakeholders, including international partners, embassies, and the global migration community.
- Adopting globally acceptable standards for amnesty and the safe return of migrants in line with Nigeria’s international commitments.
- Introducing waivers and flexible policies where necessary, including reviewing applicable fees to allow for free passage and smooth exit procedures.
A true non-kinetic approach to migration management must embody fairness, diplomacy, and respect for human dignity. Anything short of this undermines the core essence of amnesty as a path to reintegration, not punishment.