Most Nigerians who brave the stormy seas and unfriendly deserts have lost hope in an economic system that is characterized by poor governance, poor income, unemployment, insecurity, corruption, humanitarian crisis, increasing poverty, which has led to a high surge of migration. Despite the risk involved, there is high patronage of human traffickers (who charge unimaginable amounts) who lure or assist migrants across borders, promising them jobs, education and a better living condition. Many of them, mostly women and children are sold into prostitution, raped, child labor, child marriage and other abuses. Many victims of human trafficking never live to tell their stories.
By Charles Iyare
The increasing surge of migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea from Africa and other parts of the world, mainly into Europe, has become a critical issue in not just countries where they emerge, but a global threat that requires urgent global attention.
Over the years, hundreds of thousands of migrants have fled their countries seeking asylum as refugees in European countries. About 90% of migrants are usually from countries, such as Syria, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mexico, Iran where there are high security risks, insurgency, humanitarian crisis, war, poverty, human rights abuses, among others.
A report on Daily Post published by Danielle Ogbeche on May 27, 2016 indicated that from January and April, 2016 the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, rescued 152 victims of human trafficking in Lagos state.
In the report, the Lagos Zonal Commander, Mr. Joseph Famakin said his agency has successfully sent over 276 Nigerians to prison, with 51 cases in the federal and state high courts.
He added that there are 7 cases in the Court of Appeal and 2 cases in the Supreme Court. About 316 victims were rescued and brought to Lagos in 2014. While in 2015, a total of 417 victims were rescued.
The Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC) in its yearly report from January 1 to November 12, 2016 stated that an estimated total of 341,055 arrived some key part of Europe through the Mediterranean Sea route, while 4,271 deaths were recorded.
When compared to 2015, from January 1 to November 13, there were 728, 926 arrivals and 3,522 deaths recorded. Despite such alarming figures, 3 million migrants are still expected in the European Union, (EU) in 2017, compared to 1.5 million in 2016.
Migration has the capacity to alter the total demographic, ethnographic, economic, and productive growth of both the emigrant home of origin as well as country of arrival.
Migration has adverse effects on the host country, whose public utilities may be pressured and overstretched in receiving migrants from other country.
It may also affect the income – per – capita (IPC) of the citizens in the host country as well as the public infrastructures that have been designed to serve certain population of people in a location can be over utilized, leading to scarcity, tension, and conflict.
Most Nigerians who brave the stormy seas and unfriendly deserts have lost hope in an economic system that is characterized by poor governance, poor income, unemployment, insecurity, corruption, humanitarian crisis, increasing poverty, which has led to a high surge of migration.
Despite the risk involved, there is high patronage of human traffickers (who charge unimaginable amounts) who lure or assist migrants across borders, promising them jobs, education and a better living condition.
Many of them, mostly women and children are sold into prostitution, raped, child labor, child marriage and other abuses. Many victims of human trafficking never live to tell their stories.
They are exposed to harsh terrain, terrible inhuman conditions and denied access to proper life and their fundamental Human Rights.
The United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs, has stated that since the past 6 years, emigrants and migrants, in and out of Nigeria, have shown that a minimum difference of -60,000 leave the shores of the country yearly. Many of these migrants are sold into prostitution, child labor, and slavery to countries like Libya, Spain, and Italy. In 2016 alone, not less than 162 Nigerians were repatriated from Libya, 41 from USA, and 40 from the UK etc.
Data from the EU indicate that an average of 83 Nigerians crossed illegally from Nigeria to Europe, daily, while 22,500 illegally crossed via the Mediterranean in the first nine months of 2016.
The number of international migrants is growing faster than the world’s population. The share of migrants in the global population reached 244 million (3.3%) in 2015 (41% increase in 15 years), while the current average population growing rate in 2016 is estimated at around 80 million (1.13%) per year.
One can safely justify that in Nigeria, there is correlation between poverty, corruption, war and migration on the other hand. The startling record of human rights abuses, poverty, unemployment and insecurity is a major reason why there is increase in migration since the past two decades.
To reduce the increasing surge of emigrants out of Nigeria, government must tackle the problems of poverty, unemployment, hunger, corruption, that has threatened the peoples’ rights to existence.
Government’ determination to guarantee national security, workable policies, at all levels for its citizens will bring about sustainable economic growth and other forms of development.
Government should support communities across the country, mostly in areas where irregular migration is rampant, by improving economic opportunities and empowerment initiatives to the youths.
Government and NGOs must develop skill acquisition programs, such as welding, painting, fashion designing and carpentry as well as reintegration assistance for returnees to enable them rebuild their lives, raise awareness on the dangers of irregular migration to both children and adults.
Only then can Nigeria boast of the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We call on all countries to address issues of humanitarian crisis, strengthen the resilience of host communities, consider the vulnerability of migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons, and implement policies that will eradicate human trafficking.
Charles Iyare writes from the M&E Unit, ANEEJ
