The influx of irregular migrants as a challenge to security in Nigeria

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

The challenge of irregular migration has been a source of concerns to different countries, regional bodies and some international organizations. There is no doubt about the fact that irregular migration has political and security implications for host or destination countries. In most cases, irregular migration generates cross border crimes. This is essentially because the activities of individuals who engage in cross border crimes have been causing threats to the security of different nations. In Nigeria, it has been established that the porous borders and its relative economic prosperity compared to other West African countries have continued to attract many irregular migrants from the neighbouring countries. Over the years, in Nigeria, the government has been concerned on the effects of the high rate of cross border crimes in West Africa. Thus, the argument is that as a result of irregular migration Nigeria is witnessing cross border crimes, such as human trafficking, drugs trafficking, arms trafficking, child slavery, armed robbery, armed banditry, insurgency and other forms of conflicts. Also, it can be stated that as long as irregular migration continues to increase in Nigeria it will affect socio-economic and political development of the country. It is against this backdrop that this paper interrogates the influx of irregular migrants as a challenge to security in Nigeria.