The Belgian government said many Nigerians were engaged in forced prostitution in the European country.
The Director-General of the Belgian Foreign Office, Freddie Rousemont, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
Ms. Roosemont pointed out that Nigerians are the most frequently subjected to forced prostitution in Belgium.
The directorate said that upon arrival in Belgium, most Nigerians are forced into prostitution by traffickers with promises of work.
“Dreams are not reality. It is not easy to survive in Europe without a decent job. Dreams are fake.
“Belgium is not a land of milk and honey, nor is it Europe. The highest ranking forced prostitutes in Belgium are Nigerians,” he said.
He lamented the increasing number of Nigerians currently seeking asylum in Belgium.
Furthermore, “Once in Belgium, they apply for asylum, but this has little meaning. Asylum is determined based on the Geneva Conventions and does not include economic motives.”
“Asylum recognition rates are therefore very low and the chances of obtaining a residence permit are slim to none.
“Some may then try to migrate to other countries within Europe, where they may have already applied for asylum in Belgium. As a result, this European country will send them back to Belgium, From there he would have to return to Nigeria.
“As a result, people are forced to stay irregularly in precarious conditions with no social safety nets. They are at risk of economic exploitation and women are at risk of falling into prostitution. ”
“More than 362 Nigerian migrants applied for asylum in 2022, and 380 of them applied in 2023,” he said, adding that only a few of their applications were approved. .
He called on Nigerians to ignore those who try to trick them into embarking on a journey to Europe without getting admission to a university, a job offer from a Belgian company or an invitation from their family to migrate.
“Do not invest your money in a very dangerous journey through the Mediterranean Sea and line the pockets of human traffickers. Invest in your education and aim to realize your dreams in Nigeria. Through regular routes to Belgium A stay in the country could be a useful complement,” advised the Director-General.