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The European Union (EU) says it will partner with Nigeria to evolve solutions to illegal migration,  Mr Richard Young, Deputy Delegation to the EU, has said.

Young made this known in his address at the ‘‘Abuja Policy Debate’’ been organised by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), an NGO.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the policy debate is a discussion forum on EU, Germany and Nigeria’s collaboration on migration.

According to him, there is need to contribute to the political discourse on topical issues in Nigeria by providing platform for stakeholders and policy makers to discuss and recommend way forward.

“‘Nigeria, as a sovereign nation is one of the most important to EU in Africa, in terms area of diplomatic relations on the fight against illegal migration.

“‘Closing of border is not a final solution and force is not, but whatever approach might have been employed the host country needs to cooperate with us.

“‘What we want to find out through partnership is Nigeria’s strategic plan to address illegal migration and cooperation between the two countries.

“‘We want to examine the respective level of partnership, if any at all that must have existed between us, because Nigeria is a place of importance.’’

Also speaking, Mr Frantz Celestin, Deputy Chief of Mission of International Organisation for Migration (IOM), said that there was the need for awareness creation to curb illegal migration.

He described illegal migration to be multidimensional issue that required holistic approach, to be able to proffer solution to the problem.

Celestin said ‘‘awareness is important and this is why we must work with various agencies to tackle it.

‘‘It is important to note that so many countries do not know who move in and out of the place, which is why there is need for partnership to achieve target.

‘‘There should be a holistic approach through establishment of data system with immigration service to enable governments collect know what is going on at the border.’’

He said the total of 8. 700 people have so far been returned to Nigeria from Libya and that 59. 000 were yet to be returned back to the country.

According to him, helping people to return to their country is not enough, but reintegrating them back to the society is challenge.

In a remark, Mr Ulrich Thum, Resident Representative of FES, said that the reason the organisation focused on Nigeria is because there were lots of illegal migrants in Germany.

According to him, it is contributing to economic challenges in our country therefore the call for partnership to proffer solution to the problem.

“‘There is need for Nigeria to collaborate with us on basis of bilateral relations, to help returnees gain back their normal life.

“‘They need basic amenities, particularly jobs and if we do not help them here in Nigeria, they might go back,’’ Thum said.

The high point of the event were panel discussion on EU, Germany and Nigeria’s collaboration on migration, question and answer, as well as, pose for group photograph. (NAN)

FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, the Confederation of Africa Football  (CAF)  and some Nigerians believe Super Eagles made the continent proud despite their World Cup ouster.

A 1-2 loss to Argentina in the last group D game at Saint Petersburg stadium sent the team to a third place with three points  behind their South American counterparts with four points.

Lionel Messi’s captained side will join group leaders Croatia with nine points in the knockout stages while debutants Iceland will head home with a point alongside Gernot Rohr tutored side.

On her Twitter handle @fatma_Samoura urged the team to hold its head high.

“…To the Nigerian side be proud, be strong, hold your heads high! You have not only lifted the spirits of your country but made it very proud of you,” she tweeted.

CAF also added that the team had made them proud.

‘”Hard Luck @NGSuperEgles .. You did a great job and really made us proud. Celebrate Africa,” it said on CAF_online, its twitter account.

Some Nigerian politicians  also took to  their twitter handles to laud the team.

Ben Murray Bruce : “Great game @NGSuperEagles. The score line doesn’t fluctuate the position of our hearts. We won together, we lost together. We remain proud of you guys”.

Atiku Abubakar: “We gave our all. The boys can hold their heads high. Thank you @NGSuperEagles”.

Bukola Saraki: ” A great performance by our @NGSuperEagles. We fought a good fight. However, you win some, you lose some. Raise your heads up, you inspired all 180 million of us. Thank you”.

With Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia out of the World Cup, Senegal, the only African nation left,  will take on Columbia in their last group H game on Thursday. (NAN)

Some football fans on Tuesday in Abuja expressed disappointment with the Super Eagles’ World Cup exit following the team’s 1-2 loss to Argentina in their final group game at St Petersburg, Russia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result meant Nigeria failed to reach the knockout stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after finishing third in Group D with three points from three games.

A cross section of football enthusiasts who spoke to NAN at the Abuja World Cup Festival, holding at the Druz Resort in Maitama, noted that the Super Eagles were the architects of their  misfortune.

Aniekan Udom, a businessman said the Eagles were presented with a rare and great opportunity to beat  psychologically demoralised Argentine side but failed to convert their chances at goal.

“This was a rare opportunity for the Eagles to have qualified to the next round but it was quite unfortunate that they blew it.

“They squandered so many goal scoring chances. Even when they drew level, they decided to retreat and defend too early rather than continuing to apply pressure.

“Dropping deep against a very experienced Argentine side was a very costly error and it was only a matter of time for their opponents to get the result they so badly needed,” he said.

Lekan Akinola, an Accountant, said that the Eagles showed too much respect for the Argentines, adding that their opponents were there for the taking.

“We could have easily beaten this Argentine side if only we had taken our chances. Our opponents had their backs to the wall and were there.

“They came all out to play and left a lot of spaces at the back that we could have exploited and punished them but our attacking line failed to deliver when it mattered most.

“Kelechi Ihenacho was not in the game and even substitute Odion Ighalo and Oghenekaro Etebo were disappointing as they missed a lot of guilt-edge chances,” he said.

Tosin Ola, a public servant, on his part said that in spite of the loss, the Eagles gave a good account of themselves, adding that there were a lot of positives the team would be taking from their World Cup experience in Russia.

“In my opinion, I think the Super Eagles campaign at the World Cup was not a bad one.

“The team gave a good account of themselves and performed creditably well against a technically and tactically better opponents in their group.

“They have a young squad and one for the future. If the current crop of young talents are kept together and well-nurtured, including Coach Gernot Rohr and his technical crew, I think they will indeed do well at their next outing.

“It’s unfortunate it had to end like this as they were just four minutes away from a place in the round of 16, but paid the price for their lack of experience,” he said.

In the same vein, Kefas Ropshik, an automobile entrepreneur corroborated Ola’s view, adding that the Russia 2018 World Cup came to early for the young Eagles squad.

“I strongly believe that this young team is one for the future. They will be much more prepared come 2022 in Qatar.

“One could clearly see that there is a lot of talent and energy in the them, but the experience was what was missing. They lost gallantly to a better side.

“Argentina is one of the most successful national football teams in the world, having won two World Cups in 1978 and 1986.

“They boast of world class players such as Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria as well as Lionel Messi who decided to turn up today.

“We all knew that a draw would have been a good enough result for the Eagles but some of us predicted 2-1 in favour of the Eagles but unfortunately the scoreline went the other way,” he said. (NAN)

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has commended the team and urged Coach Gernot Rohr to build for better days after their heartbreaking exit from the Russia 2018 World Cup on Tuesday.

Nigeria were dumped out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after they lost 2-1 to Argentina at Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Argentina scraped through to the Round of 16 after Lionel Messi broke his drought at the tournament to give the two-time world champions the lead in the 13th minute.

It was the fifth time the Nigeria team was losing to Argentina at the World Cup.

Victor Moses restored parity for the Super Eagles from the spot after Javier Mascherano was adjudged to have fouled Leon Balogun in the box.

Marcos Rojo scored a stunning late winner three minutes from time to send Jorge Sampaoli’s side to the next round.

Nigeria finished third in Group D with three points, one adrift of Argentina who nicked second spot with the victory.

However, Enyeama tweeted on Wednesday “Naija forever. Win or lose. Qualify or eliminated.#WeAreNigeria we build for better days.”

Also, former Nigerian captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, admitted that the Super Eagles lost  to Argentina due to “limited experience.”

He said “Uzoho kept us in the game with the saves he made in the second half. We panicked in the first half,” as he analysed the game on SuperSport.

Okocha added that “We were not clear to keep more players in attack. We were limited in terms of experience.

“It was a gift from Mascherano but then I thought we started the second half better. We got ourselves in better places. It was a fantastic penalty from Moses but I think we should have put them under more pressure.”

On the controversial penalty denied the Super Eagles, the former Bolton Wanderers playmaker said the Nigerian team did not put more pressure on the referee.

Marcos Rojo handled the ball in the box involuntarily and the referee viewed it on VAR but ruled it out.

“Nobody appealed under the referee. We know what the Argentines are like. Rojo got away with one.”

On Wilfred Ndidi’s chance in the 76th minute, Okocha said: “he had more time to keep the ball down to take a good shot.

“Scoring is not his thing but I feel he should have kept the ball a close more to take a better shot.”

On Odion Ighalo’s miss, Okocha’s said: “it was a glorious chance, the ball sat down well for him. If I was Ighalo, I would try to force a save from the goalkeeper. If you don’t hit the target you don’t get your job done.”

Ighalo extended his goal drought to eight games. The Changchun Yatai striker has scored four goals in 21 games for the Super Eagles.

On the late goal the team conceded, the former PSG play maker added: “We’ve seen so many late goals in this tournament. Poor defending. Moses reacted late. I have seen him deal with that at Chelsea. I can’t fault the effort of the player the gave their best.

“It was going to be tough for us and it lived up to that and it went to the last three minutes, but I think we have to look at the bigger picture. Most of these players it was the first time.

“For the manager he did well. It’s about continutiy. We don’t have to point fingers at anyone,” he said. (NAN)