Migration and Insecurity in Nigeria: Review

Abstract

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another destination within or outside the country. In the past ages, migration most especially within the country became the vehicle for uniting citizens as such migration provides knowledge ideas, skills and technology. But today, internal migration serves as an agent of conflict and insecurity in Nigeria. To mention but few among such conflicts include Maitatsine riot of Kano in 1980, Boko Haram of North Eastern Nigeria, the conflict between indigenous peoples of Biafra and Hausa/Fulani in South Eastern Nigeria, Oduduwa People’s Congress and Hausa traders in Lagos and Ibadan. Scholars believed that such conflicts were stimulated by migration. Therefore this paper examines the concept of migration and insecurity. The authors used secondary sources of data collection and reflected their ideas on the present topic of discussion. However, as contained in this paper are the causes of migration and insecurity in Nigeria as well as theories that support migration. In addition to this, the study adopted the use of Lee`s theory of migration as the theoretical framework of this study. Lee`s theory which described migration as a product of pull and push factors. Moreover, this study found out that the porosity of Nigerian borders, bribery and corruption on the sides of officers of immigration services are the root causes of such acts. Furthermore, the paper recommended the use of modern technology such as CCTV Cameras and the recruitment of more personnel to curb insecurity and illegal migrations in Nigeria.