MIGRATION GOVERNANCE AND THE TRANSITION FROM IRREGULAR TO REGULAR MIGRATION PATHWAYS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Irregular migration remains central to debates on migration governance, especially in regions marked by socioeconomic inequality and strong demographic pressure. Nigeria is one of the main countries of origin for migrants moving along trans-Saharan and Mediterranean routes toward North Africa and Europe. These journeys often expose migrants to dangerous travel conditions, smuggling networks, exploitation, and serious human rights abuses during transit. In response, international policy discussions increasingly emphasize regular migration pathways as a practical way to reduce irregular movement and improve migrant protection. This study examines how Nigeria’s migration governance framework shapes the transition from irregular to regular migration pathways. It adopts a qualitative design based on secondary data drawn from academic literature, government policy documents, and reports by international organizations. The analysis focuses on migration trends, the institutions responsible for migration management, and policy initiatives intended to regulate mobility. The study finds that irregular migration from Nigeria is driven by a combination of economic hardship, demographic pressure, social networks, and limited access to legal migration channels. It further argues that Nigeria’s governance architecture has created an important policy foundation, but its impact remains constrained by weak institutional coordination, restrictive destination-country immigration regimes, and limited migration data. The paper concludes that expanding labour migration opportunities, strengthening bilateral agreements, and improving institutional coordination are essential if Nigeria is to shift more migrants toward safer and more regular pathways.