Cyprus government meets Nigerian Minister, tries to make the country a less attractive destination for Nigerians and others

Cyprus Minister of Interior, Constantinos Ioannou last week Friday discussed Cyprus’ policy implemented in recent months to make the country a less attractive destination for migrants with Nigerian and Lebanese officials, in Geneva, Switzerland for the international forum on refugees. 

While meeting the Nigerian Humanitarian Affairs Minister Dr Betta Chimaobim Edu, he informed her about the campaign launched on social media to promote Cyprus as an unattractive destination to those seeking asylum.

Ioannou said that they need to work on replacing “illegal migration” with “legal” routes of migration.

According to the interior minister, the campaign combined with a series of other measures taken, resulted in the reduction of African arrivals by 75 per cent this year compared to 2022.

Edu in turn briefed Ioannou on the new programme to retain the population currently underway in Nigeria. Through this programme, the government in Nigeria informs the citizens of the country, especially the youth, about the employment prospects for those staying in Nigeria.

The two ministers agreed to provide the Nigerian government with the material used for the Cyprus’ information campaign, so that it could be used by the Nigerian authorities as part of the information programme they are implementing at the national level to contain the population.

In an interview the previous day with Reuters, Ioannou raised the issue of promoting parts of Syria as safe destinations in the EU to curb migration to Cyprus, something he also discussed on Friday with the ministers he met.

Ioannou met Lebanon’s Minister of Interior and Immigration Abdallah Bou Habib, with whom they reviewed developments in the eastern Mediterranean region.

Considering that in recent months there has been an increase in sea arrivals and given that a significant number of boats depart from the coast of Lebanon, Ioannou said there is the urgent need to strengthen controls by the Lebanese authorities.

He reiterated the need to support Lebanon, recognising the problems the country faces due to its proximity to Syria and the pressures it receives from massive flows of Syrians.

Bou Habib expressed his country’s thanks to Cyprus for its initiative to promote at the European level the logistical and financial support of Lebanon.

Also, both ministers agreed that the EU’s position towards the Syrian regime should be immediately reviewed, taking into account the latest contacts and commitments of the regime to the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) over required steps to restore security in the territory of Syria for the repatriation of its citizens.

They noted the need to promote investments in Syria, which will create prospects for rebuilding the country and, by extension, development prospects that will contribute to the containment of the population.