Local and international sensitization programmes have influenced the understanding of migration dynamics (regular and irregular) in recent years (IOM, 2018). The phenomenon of migration from one country to another is part of human practice as old as recorded human history. Various factors necessitate migration for various people.
In Nigeria, with the biting economic crunch and political uncertainties, the citizens, skilled and unskilled, have ventured into other countries within and outside Africa. Among these emigrants are people engaged in clandestine movements involving risky passage through several transits. Particularly, this emigration trend among Nigerian citizens through dangerous and risky ways has become more evident in the last two decades. During this period, Nigerian emigrants to other ECOWAS countries constituted 20.7% of all estimated emigrants.
In all, emigration of Nigerians is essentially intraregional: about two thirds (62.3%) of Nigerians emigrated to other African countries, 18% to Europe, 14.8% to North America and 4.8% to other countries in 2000–2002 (Adepoju, 2015). Perhaps, what has drawn the concern of international bodies to the migration dynamic is mounting tragedy of irregular migration (crossing international borders without proper authority, or violating conditions for entering another country). Efforts to manage these possible tragedies resulted in the need for proper data to inform the policy-making processes. Accordingly, the present study will assess the awareness and perception of Anambra State residents on regular and irregular migration dynamics. This data will be generated in randomly selected households from the three senatorial districts in Anambra state using questionnaires.
Presently, there is no comprehensive data about Anambra State migration dynamics. It is expected that this study would be a source of reference for policymakers for migration management and governance.