At the instance of the Civil Society Network on Migration and Development (CSOnetMADE), stakeholders in the migration governance space in Nigeria gathered in Abuja last week to explore and enhance understanding of internal migration dynamics and its impact. The mission of the gathering is to contribute to effective national migration governance in the country. CHRISTIAN APPOLOS reports:
It was a gathering of eggheads in the migration governance space in Nigeria, comprising international and national stakeholders. International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Swiss Embassy, International Return and Reintegration Assistance (IRARA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the European Union (EU), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Population Commission, etc, were all present, and of course; so many members of the Civil Society Network on Migration and Development (CSOnetMADE).
The event, 2023 Civil Society Forum on Migration and Development, with its theme: Uncharted Territory: Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Internal Migration in Nigeria: Advancing Solutions and Partnerships, was so captivating and soothing to the current challenges in the migration governance space, that all the stakeholders described the focus of the Forum as ‘apt and timely’.
According to the concept note of the event, the primary goal is towards enhancing understanding of internal migration dynamics and its impact on national migration governance in Nigeria.
Considered the biggest migration event in the recent time in Nigeria’s migration governance space by stakeholders, participants were engaged in series of capacity building on intrinsic issues of migration. There were in-depth discussions on labour migration: rural to urban, urban to urban, interstate, as well as international. While the highly impressed representatives of the organisations presented goodwill messages, capturing their thoughts on the theme of the Forum.
Meanwhile, two studies on internal migration dynamics: The CSO Report 2023: National Migration Governance- Review of the second and third Levels of Migration Governance Structure, and NLC Study on Migrant Workers Condition in Nigeria, were unveiled. The studies presented thought-provoking backgrounds and contributed to the discussions on internal migration issues around Nigeria’s migration governance space during the capacity building sessions.
Delivering a welcome address at the main-event of the Forum, the National Coordinator of CSOnetMADE, Dr. Emeka Obiezu, said the Civil Society Forum “arose out of a strongly felt need for civil society organisations (CSOs) to have a space for discussion and information exchange.” He noted that the Forum which started in 2021 has grown into a remarkable endeavour contributing immensely to the governance of migration in Nigeria.
Furthermore, the CSOnetMADE National Coordinator hinted that the Forum was predicated on Nigeria’s National Migration Dialogue (NMD) with the theme, “Leverage Youth Migration for National Development,” which was the reason the 2023 CSF turns its gaze and that of the stakeholders to an uncharted territory.
“The theme for the 2023 CSF, “Uncharted Territory: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of Internal Migration in Nigeria – Advancing Solutions and Partnership” is a summary of our shared goal and mission, not only to CSOs, but to all migration stakeholders. It reflects the complexity and significance of internal migration which deserves our attention and most. Internal migration is a ubiquitous phenomenon that has often been overshadowed with the focus on international migration.”
“Although internal migration has its challenges, it does hold a ray of opportunities for national development and integration that should not be ignored. Thus, the reason we are here. I will like us to remember that, in some way or another, we are all migrants. Whether it is the pursuit of better opportunities, the search for stability or the quest for knowledge, migration is a shared human experience. So, when we discuss internal migration, we are not examining a phenomenon detached from us.” He added.
In its remark, the Nigeria Labour Congress, represented by its Head of International, Comrade Chris Uche, assured the Forum that NLC fully identifies with CSOnetMADE because migration, especially labour migration is dear to the Congress. He noted that internal migration in Nigeria is historical, dynamic and inherent with enormous consequences that are both positive and negative for the well-being and livelihoods of millions of individuals.
According to him; “Internal migration holds the promise of improved economic opportunities, access to education, and social amenities, it also exposes a reasonable proportion of the population to vulnerabilities. The recent surge of mass movement of people from rural to urban areas occasioned by insurgence, violent conflicts, herders and farmers’ crises, banditry, and climate change is putting strain on resources, infrastructure, and social systems, leading to social tensions, potential conflicts, and possible irregular migration across international borders.”
He further declared: “NLC will continue to partner with the CSO and all stakeholders and support all efforts geared toward achieving the goals. The NLC has done a lot in promoting better migration governance with a particular interest in labour migration. We are committed to collaboration with the CSO and other stakeholders on the need to effectively tackle the issues bedeviling internal migration, including contributing to promoting government structures for migration governance.”
Also, the representative of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ron Hendrix, in a goodwill message said: “I thank the CSOnetMADE for organizing the 2023 civil society forum immigration and development. European Union is glad to be part of it, and we are glad to be part of it for the third time since 2021. The European Union recognize the multiple roles NGOs and civil societies can play in different areas, including into migration and mobility. We are committed to support migration governance in Nigeria.”
He went on to say; “Our role is not about stopping migration. But it’s this unsafe travel form of migration; rendering migrants vulnerable and subjected to abuse, exploitation that needs to be stopped. And this is not only the case for international migration, but also for internal migration. Addressing migration cuts in many different areas. Like development, governance, education, health, social protection, climate change. Therefore it is important to mainstream internal migration in all these different areas as well. Migration work has to be done in partnerships at different levels, with different agencies at federal, state and local levels.”
Representative of the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, Ojoma Ali expressed appreciation to CSOnetMADE for its efforts towards exploring the challenges and opportunities of the unchartered territory of internal migration in Nigeria.
She said; “Exodus of Nigerians through its international air borders equally increases the age long practice of irregular migration, and rightly captures our interests, attention and of course, continuous intervention. In addressing the multitude of challenges the topic of migration brings, it is a delight to see that this network of civil society reach to the grassroots and take on the seemingly unexplored terrain in order to understand the undercurrents of internal migration in Nigeria.”
In the same vein, the Chief of Mission for International Organisation for Migration, Ukamaka Anyanechi, said the theme of the Forum is both very interesting and apt. She said to CSOnetMADE; “your contribution to the migration discourse in the region is commendable and quite appreciated,” adding that “Internal migration in Nigeria is a dynamic and complex phenomenon that has far reaching consequences for the well being and livelihood of millions of individuals.”
Furthermore, she said; “To effectively harness the benefits associated with internal migration while addressing associated adverse effects, there is the need for collaborative efforts involving the engagement and participation of a broad range of stakeholders. In this regard, the strategic position and roles that CSOs play are required to ensure that a robust policy and legislative framework is in place, adequate resources are made available for strategic development at all levels, and direct assistance is provided to beneficiaries.
“IOM in Nigeria remains committed to this partnership and coordination and this is reflected in our five year country strategy, which recognizes the strategic value and importance of the role of government and role of society approach in proffering solutions to human mobility challenges.”
IRARA representative, Lillian Nwanma, also said; “IRARA is proud to identify with you. We want to assure of our continued commitment and support to improve migration discourse in Nigeria. The theme for this year on unchartered territory, is very apt. It’s impact no doubt would bring about political decisions with the intent to harness and leverage on the opportunities to social, political and economic inclusion and also address the negative impacts such as the restraint on infrastructure, national security. We hope that this will lead to more studies or research for better management of migration in Nigeria.
“As we gradually establish our presence in Nigeria, we are sure of our commitments to partner and to support the civil society network on migration and development, and other actors in the migration space to develop initiatives aimed at promoting good and efficient management of migration in Nigeria.”
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, while declaring the Forum open noted that Civil society organisations in Nigeria have always been our partner.” Its representative at the event, Ambassador Catherine Odida who said this, further reiterates the Commission’s responsibility to coordinating all migration related issues in the country.
She went on to say; “We have always had the CSOs as partners. Of course, international partners have also been with us on this route to ensure that migrants are treated fairly. The theme of the Forum’s this year is apt. We needed to look at internal migration dynamics, the trends and see how we could see the challenges and also the benefits and then basically have a win win situation. We have been concentrating a lot on international migration but we need to look in to know how many persons who are not Nigerians are within Nigeria; I’m not talking about migrant workers alone. We need to know how many of them are documented and vulnerable? How many of them are actually being trafficked. Trafficked in here or trafficked out.”
She went further to say; “We will like to charge CSOnetMADE to look inwards and see if we can get data on migrants living in Nigeria. Nigeria is not only a destination country but a transit also. We therefore charge you with your international partners to carryout surveys and researches on the number of migrants we have in this country and those who are transiting. Most of the traffic persons are actually migrants who have moved from one part of the country to the other. Because there’s a strong nexus between those who have been displaced or moved around and those who are being trafficked out of the country.
“We will be very grateful if you could look into that. You are not only the voice but you are actually the heartbeat of any organization or any ideas that we pitch across. We plan to work with you and do our best to ensure that you do not just succeed but that you also help us to succeed as a government in migration governance in Nigeria.”
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