Over sixty percent of Nigerians seeking greener pastures abroad are without International Passports and Visas.
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS revealed this during the launch of 2022 report on awareness and perception of intending and returned Migrants on the dangers of irregular migration.
At the Launch in Abuja, the Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran said the Nigerian Youth constitute large number of Irregular Migration, hence the need for the study to raise awareness on the dangers and perception of the intending and returned Migrants in Nigeria.
”The movement of human population across borders has characterized human societies throughout history. Economic, Social, and political factors continue to be responsible for this incessant migration of persons both within and outside political boundaries. Some of these movements, however, are being carried out irregularly, outside the laws, regulations or international agreements governing entry and exit from any country.
”In more recent times, the growing scope, changing trends and the alarming population engaged in irregular migration, particularly the perilous migratory flows of people into Western continents via unsafe transit points have gained currency”, he said.
The SG represented by the Director of Gender and Social Statistics, Mr Vincent Oriokpa, explained that the report which focused on garnering data on Migrates, Almajiris and House was carried out in six perceived endemic states of Anambra, Edo, Lagos, Benue, Gombe, and Kano.
Also, the Deputy Chief of Mission, International Organisation for Migration IOM, Prestage Murima said there were various areas that drive the behaviour hence the need to reduce the level of irregular Migration and provide necessary support for the Nigerian Government
In a remark, the Director, Household Statistics and Demography, Mr Musa Muhammed who advised relevant stakeholders to adopt the recommendations, stressed that if well utilised, the report would serve as catalyst for national development.
Also, the National Director, Civil Society Network on Migration and Development, Dr Emeka Obiezu emphasized the need for the government to create policies to address cases of irregular Migration, and Almajiris phenomenon.
While giving the overview of the report, the lead Technical Officer in the NBS, Mr Geofrey Akor said over 80 percent of the respondents from Urban areas intend to engage in irregular migration, with 60.8% of them wishing to travel abroad without passports or visa, a development he said calls for concern.
On returned Migrants, he said Kano has the highest number, 39percent, followed by Lagos, 20 percents.
Others are Edo, Anambra, Gombe and Benue.
On the menace of House helps popularly known as Domestic Workers, Mr Akor said over forty percent of parents and guardians were willingly to give their Children out for domestic work and financial gains.
Stakeholders present at the event include the Nigeria Immigration Service, NAPTIP, National Human Rights Commission and civil society organisations.
