Irregular migration: Analyst tells FG how to stop exploitation of Nigerian youths

A foreign affairs analyst, Chibuzo Onyema, has offered advice to the Nigerian government on how to prevent the exploitation of young Nigerians through irregular migration. In a recent statement, Onyema urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies to create effective pathways to tackle irregular migration among the youth. He emphasized that the issue has become critical as Nigerian youths are increasingly falling prey to exploitative agents, fraudulent recruiters, and trafficking networks.

Onyema explained that merely providing skills training would not suffice to deter young people from engaging in irregular migration. The training must lead to decent jobs, sustainable livelihoods, and income-generating opportunities. He called on the Nigerian government to develop reliable labor-mobility channels, enabling young people with relevant skills to find legitimate employment abroad.

Instead of leaving opportunity-seeking youths vulnerable to exploitation, he suggested that governments should establish effective models to engage destination countries and legitimate employers directly. This would facilitate verified employment and regular migration pathways. Onyema pointed out that training should be aligned with verified labor-market demand, while employers must provide apprenticeships and jobs.

Furthermore, he emphasized the need for governments and destination countries to establish bilateral labor pathways.