The Belgian government says Nigerians make up the largest number of people forced into 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.
Mr. Roosemont said, “The dream is not real. It is not easy to live in Europe without a decent job. The dream is fake. Belgium is not the land of milk and honey, and it is not Europe. Many forced prostitutes are Nigerian.
“Upon entering Belgium, they apply for asylum, which has little meaning. Asylum is determined based on the Geneva Conventions and does not include economic motives. Therefore, the granting rate of asylum is very low. The chances of getting a residence permit are low.
“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, of which 380 applied in 2023,” the directorate added, adding that only a few of them had their applications approved. .
He called on Nigerians to ignore those who try to trick them into embarking on a journey to Europe without getting a place in 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 Staying in the country can be a useful complement,” the Director-General added.