ASSESSING THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMPONENT OF ECONOMIC MIGRATION: THE ‘JAPA’ SYNDROME IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Economic migration is an age-long global phenomenon that occasionally results in infringements of the human rights of migrants.  The rule of law and universal notions of human rights are essential foundations for a democratic world order and social peace. Conversely, evidence reveals that violations of migrants’ human rights are widespread and that they are a defining feature of international migration in the age of globalisation.  This exercise, therefore, examined the human rights component of economic migration using Nigeria as a point of departure. It highlighted the push and pull factors that motivate migrants to exit Nigeria to unknown societies in search of better well-being. The work adopted the doctrinal method of academic research which comprises both primary and secondary sources. The work revealed that migration could advance the economy of Nigeria, particularly with the huge external remittances that flow through Nigeria economic migrants and citizens will most likely exit a disorganised society, even when they are not sure of the human rights conditions across the borders because the quest for survival is an existential crisis The work recommended that economic migration cannot be tamed until the Nigeria government takes the issues of governance seriously by revamping the bedridden internal economy.