Migration Dialogue: FG expresses concern over increasing emigration of Nigerians.
The Federal Government is worried about the growing number of Nigerian university graduates and trained professionals who are leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad.
At the 2023 National Migration Dialogue in Abuja, held on Thursday by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), President Bola Tinubu voiced his concern.
‘Leveraging Youth Migration for National Development’ is the theme of the 2023 National Migration Dialogue.
Dr. Betta Edu, Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was present when Tinubu made his statement. Tinubu emphasised the critical importance of studying the interplay between migration, youth, and national development in Nigeria.
His reasoning was that young people, who constitute 16% of the global population, are an increasingly mobile group with enormous untapped potential for positive growth.
The World Bank predicts that Nigeria’s population could double in the next 25 to 30 years, putting it among the countries with the fastest-growing populations in the world.
You may already be aware that Nigeria plays a crucial role as a starting point, a transit point, and an endpoint for young migrants.
Addressing this dilemma requires exploring alternate techniques to minimise vulnerabilities, as the common use of irregular migration routes increases them, according to Tinubu.
In his view, Nigeria’s economic diversification will lead to a more stable and resilient growth trajectory.
The Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, stated that the goal of the debate was to discuss migration and its effects on young people’s hopes, dreams, and abilities.
According to Ahmed, 4,500 migrants from different nations, both voluntary and forced-returned, were able to be welcomed with the help of the commission.
He mentioned that the aid was provided in conjunction with the backing of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and other stakeholders involved in migration on a national and subnational level.
“The government, civil society organisations, and our international partners are presently integrating these migrants into various reintegration schemes.
The dynamics of internal migration and mobility will be explored as we dive into the National Migration Dialogue.
“One of the greatest flood occurrences in over a decade occurred in Nigeria in 2022, hitting 33 out of the 36 states of the federation and displacing nearly 1.4 million people,” Ahmed stated.
This, he said, demonstrates how important climate events are for people’s ability to move around.
The Chief of Mission, IOM, Laurent De Boeck, also spoke, saying that in order to tap into the potential of youth mobility, government policies should be perceived as caring for the diaspora rather than exploitative.
To improve regular channels for migrants, “IOM remains committed to working with the national government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that we shift the narrative on migration,” De Boeck continued.