Over half of Nigerians have expressed a desire to leave the country, with the number of those seriously considering emigration tripling since 2017, a new report by Afrobarometer has revealed.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the report, published on Wednesday to mark International Migration Day (IMD), highlights a growing trend of Nigerians seeking to escape economic hardship and pursue better opportunities abroad.
According to the pan-African research network, 56% of Nigerians have contemplated emigration, marking a 20-percentage-point increase since 2017.
Those who have given “a lot” of thought to leaving have surged from 11% to 33% within the same period.
The report shows that emigration intentions are highest among urban residents, the highly educated, the unemployed, and young Nigerians. Notably, 71% of individuals with post-secondary education, 63% of urban dwellers, and 60% of citizens aged 18 to 35 have considered leaving the country.
The survey indicates that North America and Europe are the preferred destinations for most Nigerians, with the Middle East also attracting significant interest.
Economic factors such as the search for jobs and the need to escape poverty remain the primary motivations for potential migrants.
The 21-percentage-point rise in Nigerians considering emigration over the past six to eight years is more than double the continental average of 9 percentage points.
The report further noted that 47% of respondents across 24 African countries have thought about emigration, with 27% giving it “a lot” of consideration.
Liberia topped the list of African countries with the highest emigration intentions at 78%, followed by The Gambia (68%), Cabo Verde (64%), and Ghana (61%).
Conversely, Tanzania recorded the lowest emigration interest at 9%, with a notable decline in emigration intentions.
Afrobarometer collected its data through face-to-face interviews with 1,600 adult Nigerians between June 19 and July 17, 2024.
The survey, conducted in the respondents’ language of choice, provides a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
The research covered 23 other African countries, involving sample sizes of 1,200 to 2,400 adults per country.
The organization has conducted similar surveys since 2000, tracking migration trends across the continent.
The report highlighted a significant rise in emigration intentions across Africa, with nearly half of the surveyed population considering leaving their home countries.
Economic hardship and unemployment were cited as the most common reasons, with 49% of respondents mentioning job opportunities as their primary motivation.
While North America and Europe remain the most sought-after destinations, 25% of respondents expressed interest in relocating within Africa, indicating a growing trend toward regional mobility.
The increasing emigration intentions among young, educated Nigerians underline the country’s economic challenges and highlight the need for urgent government intervention to address unemployment and poverty.
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