POVERTY AND MIGRATION: DIMENSIONS IN DEEPENING THE UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Much of the current data suggests that the wave of poverty induced migration compounded by the heightened level of herdsmen uprisings and insurgencies are on the increase and constitutes a worrisome dimension in the economic development of Nigeria. Suffice to re-echo the opinions of many scholars observing that the banes of Nigeria’s economic development besides corruption are the issues of poverty and migration. Poverty and migration are bed mates given the fact that most migrations are poverty orchestrated. Although in recent times, most migrations are forced due to conflicts and insurgencies leading to internally displaced migrations or migrations beyond the frontiers of Nigeria. In this paper, the writers are investigating the degree to which poverty and migration are compounding the underdevelopment milieu of Nigeria. The writers shall adopt a thematic approach in the conduct on this research. The paper identifies that poverty as the lack of productive resources, income and capacities which contributes to individual or group isolation has contributed immensely to migrations towards Europe and the America in search of greener pasture. Poverty no doubt subjects individuals or groups to vulnerable position, making them powerless economically, politically and most often socially discriminated.