Introduction
Nigeria continues to be subject to a range of issues emerging from the large volumes of internal and external migration it encounters every year. It is the most densely populated country in Africa and seventh largest in the world, holding about 204 million people as of 2019. The net migration rate is -0.2 migrants per 1000 people (Olayinka, 2016). This indicates the serious problems that Nigeria faces due to the rates of immigration from the West African region annually. Nigeria is a hotspot for immigration due to the size of the population, economic climate and the highly porous borders that are ineffectively managed. Nigeria forms an important link between the coastal West Africa, Central Africa and the trans-Saharan routes that run through Niger to Libya and Morocco (Olayinka, 2016). The government of Nigeria is focusing more attention on how to manage the growing population. The ensuing discussion provides more insight on the important economic, social, political and cultural concerns regarding the effects of migration in Nigeria.
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The ICRC president, Peter Maurer, articulates some important issues pertaining the rates of migration that are being witnessed all over the world in the present day. Governments, human rights activists and aid agencies are engaged in one the largest humanitarian challenges to hit the globe (Intercross, 2016). The ICRC continues to fight for the hope and dignity of the thousands feeling armed conflict, violence and poverty every year. Politicians need to stop turning a blind eye on the issues that are leading to migration rates increment. The gun culture and militia activities have led to countless deaths in the world year by year. Countries need to direct more funds towards reception structures, job opportunities, and education structures for those who are forced to immigrate due to violence, persecution and poverty (Intercross, 2016). Migration is a mix of motive. Making a person migrate and leave everything behind is not easy; however, making those same people go back is much harder. Despite all the negative attitudes towards migration, the science and economics have revealed that it is in fact positive.
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Analysis of the situation in Nigeria
Various assumptions have come up on the best methods that countries can use to handle migration. On these assumptions is the integration of refugees and migrating communities into the host communities. However, various barriers exist in trying to convert a community from being multicultural to intercultural (Olayinka, 2016). Improving the lives of migrants in the new environments requires provision of employment, housing, education and health services. However, most migrants receive limited access to these facilities due to the pressure placed on host counties’ social services and resources (Ager & Strang, 2008). Most African countries, Nigeria included, are unable to integrate migrants into their communities based on prevalent xenophobic tendencies where people tend to perceive the migrant as a competitor for the limited resources (Olayinka, 2016). Nigeria already struggles to feed the existing population hence an increment in population only poses a challenge in accommodating raising major concerns on what ways the government can use to integrate incoming communities from the Niger delta and surrounding regions to the indigenous occupants.
A recent study conducted in Nigeria aimed to show how migrants from neighboring Benin were integrating with the South-Western region of Nigeria (Olayinka, 2016). To understand this data clearly, one must first comprehend the challenges that come up in housing and work for immigrant communities. Housing has a great effect on how migrants feel in a new country that is not home (Ager & Strang, 2008). The main issue is not necessarily the measures of physical size, but the social and cultural impacts it has on people living in an alien country. Research conducted by Ager & Strang (2008), show the plight of an African woman living as a foreigner in Glasgow. She was forced to live in areas with junkies and criminals. She had escaped one hell only to land in another (Ager & Strang, 2008). The data from the South West Nigeria research indicated that most of the immigrants were of working age between 21 and 50 years. They chose to marry among themselves and rent out houses in secluded areas. This shows the challenges facing integration of migrants.
Refugee resettlement has been seen to be a durable solution for reunifying migrants with the feeling of citizenship and home. Acquiring social citizenship is faced by numerous barriers making it challenging to resettle refugees (Grace, Nawyn, & Okwako, 2017). Exclusionary practices prevent immigrants from gaining access to social citizenship and services. There exists a great disparity between the restrictions from the legal structures and the rights a migrant has access to. Grace, Nawyn, & Okwako article (2017) gives an example of a migrant woman in Central America who tries to acquire a birth certificate for her child, but is unable due to laws and procedures regardless of having the right as a refugee. Nigeria experiences more or less the same problems where migrants have the rights to access social services, but the laws and procedures required to actually get it done are the main barriers (Olayinka, 2016).
Economically, hosting refugees has been found to be contributing significantly in the development of the host country. Migrants into rural border regions of Nigeria help in repopulating the areas, increasing provision and sustainability of social services and most importantly, enhancing labor and food security hence revitalizing economies of host countries (Olayinka, 2016). Prior research has indicated that, migration leads to the strain of resources on the host country. For Nigeria, this is not the case since most young people leave the rural areas depopulated after heading to the urban areas. Therefore, migrants move into such areas and begin redeveloping the depleted institutions by providing much needed energy and enthusiasm. The ICRC president has recognized the positive impacts that migration has on society (Intercross, 2016).
Conclusion
In overall, countries cannot simply close down their borders and neglect refugees; therefore, politicians must recognize the great impact that migrants have on a host country. Providing developed institutions for immigrants and refugees can help in realizing the full positive potential of supporting refugees. Without the appropriate integration approach, migrant communities end up clashing with host communities. Nigeria is an educational and technological hotspot, attracting Africans from all walks of life into the country to share in this prowess. The population may be growing rapidly, but with a revamped population, the country may in fact reach greater heights with the appropriate policies and laws aimed at improving immigrant’s lives.
References
Ager, A., & Strang, A. (2008). Understanding Integration: A Conceptual Framework. Journal of Refugee Studies, 167-191. doi:10.1093/jrs/fen016
Grace, B., Nawyn, S., & Okwako, B. (2017). The Right to Belong (If You Can Afford it): Market-based Restrictions on Social Citizenship in Refugee Resettlement. Journal of Refugee Studies , 43-62. doi:doi:10.1093/jrs/few046
Intercross. (2016, May 11). The Modern Age of Migration - An Interview with ICRC President Peter Maurer [Video file]. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/166212852
Olayinka, P. K. (2016). Cross-Border Migrants’ Integration in Rural Border Communities of South-West Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development Studies , 138-152.
