ALTERNATIVE NARRATIVES TO ILEGAL MIGRATION AMONGST YOUTH IN NIGERIA BY MIMI

An innocent me once said to my siblings in the presence of my daddy ‘I can’t wait to o make a good money enough to get me out of this country for good. Daddy looked at me with a questioning look wanting me to explain the reasons behind my proposed action, and I just shrugged saying “isn’t it obvious only successful people leave the country for other countries to settle down?”

 Base on observations within my vicinities, I can say that 40% of Nigeria youth share this same mindset o only the rich leaves their country for a foreign country, hence always looking for the slightest way to leave Nigeria, be it legally or  illegal. While 50 % of the youth believes the foreign countries are the best way to make a good money, as a result making them go to any extent of finding themselves out of Nigeria. Nevertheless, we still have the 10% of the country’s youth who are not so obsessed with the thought of fleeing or leaving the country the using any means that comes their ways.

In addition to my own personal observations, research has shown that 40% of Nigeria youth migrate illegally into other countries due to various circumstances they find themselves in.

Migration describes to be a multidimensional phenomenon according to my research, is said to deal with economic, social and political factors, of which the act of migration can be internal ( where people moves  within the national boundary)  or international ( where people moves to different countries other than an area of origin ). Viewing the meaning from a general point of view, we can also say that migration is the change of location or environment of an entity.

So in view of the general meaning of migration already discussed, it can be conveniently said that, the act of illegal Migration, is the movements of people across national borders in a way that violates  the immigrants law. This set of people are also usually referred to as “unauthorized or undocumented immigrants”

Findings has also show that most young people who happen  to migrate illegally were motivated by a basic three factors  which are; the economic reasons, family dynamics, and social media, Economic situation in Nigeria remains a challenge tonight’s youth  as the situation becomes  unstable daily, hence creating more doubt in the youth who are just trying to develop themselves and make a life  for themselves. Family dynamics is another funny factors that also affects our  youth mindset in migrating to other countries. For an average Nigeria youth whose families ( none of them)  has a record  of ever moving out of the country for any purpose would wish and try out any possible means of at least bearing the title of being the first man in his family to leave for a foreign country. Social media also has it power over 90% of  Nigerians youth, as it happen to be their mini god. They directly/indirectly follow he trends on it strictly an at the same time wanting to be the trends on it, they therefore  go to any extent  to belong to the  class of probably the foreigners or any flamboyant lifestyles on the media.

Most immigrants within and outside Africa are illegal, it is however bad that those found in Nigeria appear to be on the increase. This situation directly and indirectly keeps placing the country’s development at a state of setback. The country’ has been affected directly as its image  keeps getting stained for every of her youth caught in other countries, Also the county’s developing state is affected indirectly as attaining a good height of development with a lazy or fraudulent youth makes the dream so impossible.

Even though, there are also other reasons  such as overpopulation, wars and asylum, the dominating cause of this act among our youth is still  all summarized into lack of discipline. AS most of the victim gives excuses for their actions usually when caught blaming it on poverty and lack of good access to education. To present all of this from happening,  self-discipline should be  emulated in all aspect of our life. No self-disciplined youth will decide to use a dubious  way as a means of surviving at the risk of his/her own life. With self-discipline present as the crown factors, youth will be move to make a better living of their life and create  a better self within their environment, regardless of  the situation  on ground.

 It is also advisable that education in all aspects shouldn’t be neglected at all. Education has happen to be that appears difficult and blocked. Hence  Time and all other actors devoted to a act of chance of dying along the line should be given to the act that is  with a certainty of success, all things being equal, AS one becomes educated all rounds an easy and perfect ways to move out an go in of different countries becomes known also.

Many Nigeria youth also gives in into the illegal migration as a result of not meeting the legal migrants requirement when it comes to  jobs at hand. So even as a students you shouldn’t just place  limits on  your education learn wide and deep by learning any hand work of your  choice that makes you a job owner anytime any day and anywhere you find yourself.

Finally, government should provide more job opportunities and entrepreneurship opportunities and all other opportunities capable of trapping the country’s youth  within the nation. Hence the good of the youth remains within the country and making illegal migration the least of option among the youth thought.

BY MIRACLE OLUWTOMIWA (MIMI)