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Nigerian Migration Dynamics and Governance
Migration is considered a complex phenomenon, a fundamental aspect of the structural transformation of societies. This is more so in developing societies and the pattern differs substantially across regions and countries. Contemporary massive population movements in Africa have their roots in colonial imperialism with attendant economic, socio-cultural and political dimensions transformed the nature and character of the various pre-colonial social formations, and progressively fitted them to the dictates of metropolitan capitals. These phenomena became the harbinger of modern day expressions of contradictions and conflicts with attendant consequences on nation building in Africa. This does not negate the pre-colonial, historical and pre-historical accounts of migration of African people. However, the point being made is that the contemporary African migration (international and internal) is linked with the first encounters between Africa and the Western world. Massive migrations in Nigeria can be traced to the era of the slave trade, between 1400 and 1900. It is recorded that over 12million Africans were exported to Europe and America (1). Nigeria particularly lost about 2million forced labor migrants. Trade-related migration took place between Nigeria and other African countries especially Ghana. This chapter examines the migration patterns and dynamics in North-Central Nigeria. This will be done within the framework of some interrelated contexts; historical perspectives and conflicts, migrations and policy implications, migration and state response to the dynamics of conflict or indeed the general contradictions associated and arising from the phenomenon especially in North-Central Nigeria. The impact of these on the development problematic will be analyzed and remedial proposals advanced.