Leaving Nigeria according to many Nigerians is the only way to run away from the problems they face in the country.
Hence, makes some choose to emigrate by any means possible; legal or illegal. In a recent research on 4 States (Delta, Edo, Imo and Lagos) by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it was revealed that many Nigerians travel through the desert and the sea illegally.
According to the report, “the major justification for intending migrants in the four states surveyed are considerations for better economic outcomes (i.e in search of the proverbial ‘greener pastures’.”
However, research has shown that illegal migration through the deserts and seas have some highly dehumanising risks.
As highlighted in the NBS Survey Report on Awareness and Perceptions of Migrants on the dangers of Irregular Migration in Nigeria, 2020, it was reported that illegal migrants face considerable travel risks and dehumanising conditions such as:
a. dehumanising conditions of detention,
b. sexual abuse,
c. hunger,
d. slavery and;
e. forced labour in significant numbers.
Commenting on the reports, the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, said the report is “a pioneer initiative in Nigeria with the primary objective to identify the level of awareness and perceptions of intending and returned migrants as to the dangers of irregular migration.
“Furthermore, it establishes a baseline upon which future data gathering efforts can be built, and more importantly, informed policies can be designed and targeted to address the challenge of illegal, unregulated immigration as it affects Nigeria. Four target states of Delta, Edo, Imo and Lagos were selected for this round of the survey,” he added.
