Today is being observed as the International Day for the Migrants. The Day was proclaimed on December 4, 2000, by the United Nations General Assembly, taking into account the huge and increasing number of migrants in the world. It is a day for the global community to spare a thought for the men, women and children exiled by wars, riots, droughts, economic difficulties and bad governments. The theme of this year’s commemoration is: “Reimagining Human Mobility”.
According to available statistics, the number of international migrants rose from 175m in 2000 to 272m in 2019, with Europe harbouring nearly two-thirds of them. It is generally believed that the lure of a well-paid job in a wealthy country is a powerful force behind international migration. Many advanced and dynamic economies need migrant workers to fill jobs that do not find local workers willing to take up the jobs at the wages attached to them.
However, migrants who are forcefully dislodged by conflict and persecution are found in developing countries. Many have been uprooted for years with no hope of returning. War and civil strife, famine and natural disasters have been largely responsible for this epidemic of mass migration that has affected almost every region of the world – from Europe to the Middle East, and from the Americas to Asia.
International migration has become a worrisome phenomenon that comes with grave consequences. In September 2016, the United Nations General Assembly hosted a high-level summit to address the massive movements of migrants and refugees with the aim of bringing countries together to forge a more humane and coordinated approach.
It was the first time since the commemoration began that the Assembly called for a summit of the heads of state and governments to address the global phenomenon. The historic gathering afforded the participants the opportunity to come up with a blueprint for a better international response.
On the flipside,migration has been a courageous expression of the individual’s will to overcome adversity and to live a better life. Today, globalisation, together with advances in communications and transportation, is believed to have greatly increased the number of people who have the desire and the capacity to move to other places.
This new era poses challenges and provides opportunities for societies throughout the world. It has also served to underscore the clear linkage between migration and development.
Migration draws increasing attention in the world presently. However, mixed with elements of unpredictability, emergency and complexity, the challenges and difficulties of international migration arguably require enhanced cooperation and collective action among countries and regions. Interestingly, the United Nations is actively playing a catalyst role in this area, with the aim of creating more dialogues and interactions within countries and regions, as well as propelling experience exchange and collaboration opportunities.
Worthy of note is the fact that on September 19, 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a set of commitments during its first-ever summit on large movements of refugees and migrants to enhance their protection.
These commitments are known as the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (NY Declaration). The NY Declaration reaffirms the importance of the international protection regime and represents a commitment by Member States to strengthen and enhance mechanisms to protect people on the move. It also paves the way for the adoption of two new global compacts in 2018: the global compact on refugees and the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.
Nigeria has had its own fair share of international migrants driven by different conditions like the Boko Haram conflicts, hardships and the desire for greener pastures which most times have ended in disasters along the notorious and perilous Mediterranean route to Europe. The latest statistics show that over 17, 000 on irregular migration have been repatriated to the country, mainly from Libya.
Presently, there is a thin line separating Nigerian migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since the two categories move or relocate for different reasons – forcefully or willingly.
Displaced people, under whatever circumstances, need food, shelter, water, clothing, sanitation, jobs and medicines. Whilewe applaud governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Nigeria that have been working to reduce the plight of migrants and IDPs driven by man-made and natural calamities in their fatherland, we call on government at all levels to address the issues that force or tempt citizens to relocate from their homes.
We are not oblivious of the efforts the federal government has been making to curb the phenomenon by throwing a wet blanket on the lure of going abroad. However, the Nigerian leaders should reflect on the lessons of the International Migration Day and do the needful if the commemoration is to make any meaning.
