Speaking in Abuja yesterday at a seminar titled Conference on National Migration Policy Thematic Areas, Mr Arrion pointed out that the development can be detrimental to the development of the country. Organised by United Nations International Organisation for Migration, the conference reviewed the migratory pattern of Nigerians across the globe and its economic impact.
Mr Arrion said: “There are more Nigerian doctors and nurses in Europe and in America than in Nigeria. So, let’s be careful with that as it is good to attract the best people but not to the detriment of the development of your country.”
He explained that the EU welcomed migration as long as it was legal, adding that it enhances the movement of factors of production, particularly labour, especially in Europe. Of late, however, several EU countries, particularly the UK have been clamping down on migration, seeking to keep Africans out.
“Migration is good. We in Europe like migration as long as it is legal as we need migration for various reasons. Movement of factors of production is a good thing and labour moving freely is a very good thing.
“In Europe and in other western countries, we have this specific issue of aging population, so we need fresh blood in our countries but we have to be careful sometimes about brain drain. As you know, there are more PhD holders from Nigerian origin in Europe or in America than in Nigeria," Mr Arrion added.
Dr Abubakar Sulaiman, Nigeria's minister of national planning and the deputy chairman of the National Planning Commission, said Nigeria was grappling with a wide range of migration issues. He pledged Nigeria’s commitment towards tackling migration issues, pointing out that the federal government’s commitment in this regard had been demonstrated by the endorsement of the National Labour Migration Policy and the National Migration Policy.
“Nigeria as the most populous country on the continent grapples with a wide range of migration issues, from internal migration to massive intra and inter-regional migration. Migration of highly skilled and unskilled labour workforce, trafficking in persons, diaspora engagement and remittances amongst others, have shaped the current migratory trends and dominated contemporary migration discourse,” Dr Sulaiman added.
He pointed out that the policy recognised the challenges of migration in Nigeria, especially relating to smuggling and trafficking in persons and irregular migration. According to Dr Sulaiman, it addresses the benefits of migration and considers ways of maximising opportunities to use the huge remittance flows from the diaspora.
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