Nigerians count for one of the largest migrant groups arriving in Europe today.
UNHCR
By Olakunle Agboola – Most hardworking young Africans are desperate to leave the continent. Micheal, a hardworking Nigerian, suddenly became so desperate and was ready to do anything to get to Europe because Tade his childhood friend now in Europe had just finished building his house in Lagos, which was supervised by his younger brother who resides in Lagos.
Tade left Nigeria not up to two years and he has built a four-bedroom apartment in Lagos. He was able to pay back the money he borrowed to travel within a year after he started sending money to his younger brother to build a house until completion.
This became a reality for Micheal who feels travelling to Europe is greener than wasting away in Nigeria. Micheal, a forty year old fashion designer was born in Lagos and for fifteen (15) years he has owned a shop in Ketu, but has not been able to raise money to build a house let alone have a decent meal or send his kids to good schools. The pressure exerted on him by his family to travel and make money like his friend Tade made his thirst to go to Europe unquenchable. He does not care travelling through the dangerous Sahara Desert to have a stopover in Libya and then cross the deadly Mediterranean Sea. Michael’s story is not new as he is just one out of millions of Africans who feels the grass is greener on the other side and will do anything to get to Europe to have a better life.
This is the major reason why the population of Africans travelling to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea has grown in recent times. It has been attested by UNHCR that more than 1,600 people have died or gone missing in the latter year of 2019, with the rate of fatalities rising sharply, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea. For every eighteen (18) people crossing to Europe over the central Mediterranean between January and July 2019, one person dies. Over the same period in 2017, there was one death for each 42 refugees and migrants attempting the crossing.
There were 172,301 sea arrivals to Italy, Greece, Spain and Cyprus in 2017 with 3,139 people dead or missing. At the peak of the migration crisis in 2015, there were more than a million sea arrivals with 4,771 mortalities. Last year, 4,540 migrants and refugees died or went missing out of a total of 68,199 sea arrivals, which would suggest a similar death toll to previous years, despite fewer crossings.
All the warnings and strategies of the government have not prevented people from traveling. The likes of Micheal looking for a greener pasture is on a daily rise in Africa. They are willing to risk their lives when they feel all hope is dimmed to make their life worthwhile in their home country. The migrants do have a lot of reasons living the shore of Africa by a close interview with some of them who is set to leave for Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.
Poverty
Poverty is a factor for a lot of people living in the shore of Africa. They feel government is not responsive to their needs and the quality of life is diminished compared to the life in Europe.
According to one of the Migrants, Musa, “It is pitiable that many live on $1.25 or less per day, which is not close to what someone on a legal minimum wage earns in the UK (£5.93). According to reports from World Bank in 2016, 48.5 percent of people from the sub-Sahara African region are in this category”.
He continues, “There is hunger in this continent, but our leaders do pay lip attention to it and what matters to them is their families who have access to good education abroad and social amenities. Each government comes on board and makes tempting promises to deliver the dividends of democracy, which they hardly keep. To make things worse, the majority of migrants finding their way to Europe are graduates. I want a better life which I know traveling abroad will make it happen. Many cannot even boast of three-square meals a day or afford luxuries like cars or good houses.”
Low minimum wage/poor working condition.
Recently Nigerian government increased the minimum wage from 18,000 Naira to 30,000 Naira and it got a lot of Nigerians talking. While some are happy for the increase, majority are in doubt if 30,000 Naira will ever be enough to sustain their families for a month. As this change will result in an increase in house rent, transportation, school fees and other source of livelihood which Abraham, a migrant finding his way to Europe feels it can never be enough to sustain his family and traveling abroad is the only solution to put food on the table.
In his words, “the Nigeria minimum wage is the lowest and the poorest in the world which I feel a lot of people can attest to. You can’t compare what we earn in Nigeria to legal minimum wage offered abroad and this is driving African migrants crazy. Everyone is eager to have a taste of the pie – a good reward for their labor.”
“A report of New Telegraph (2017) reveals that over 15,000 Nigerian doctors have gone overseas in search of greener pastures. The low minimum wage and poor working conditions are problems causing migrations that African leaders are yet to fix.”
Family pressure
Family pressures are in different categories, but it is one of the major factors contributing to African migration to Europe. Micheal, poured out himself, as family pressure is the major reason why he is set to travel abroad.
In His Words,” I don’t think anybody can be more frustrated than I am right now. There is an adage that says a fool at 40 is a fool forever. I have lived 40 years of my life in Nigeria most especially in Ketu Lagos and I can’t boost of building my own house or buying a “Tokunbo” (Used) car. My first born is in senior secondary school one (SSS 1) and very soon he will be heading to the University. How do I want to cope with my ageing parents and bills that stares at me every day? All my friends that we grew up together in Ketu have travelled abroad and they are all sending money home, building houses and buying cars for their parents. There is so much pressure on me from my family to travel abroad and make money like them.”
Lack of basic amenities and social welfare system
The lack of social amenities is another reason why people, especially youths are so desperate to leave the shores of Africa especially Nigeria. Though many African countries have developed in this area, it is still nothing compared to the experience or the level of development overseas.
Desmond from Nairobi, who is also making plans to leave his country, said. He yearned for social amenities such as; good road transportation system, water supply, healthcare and more, which are the major reasons he is planning to settle down abroad.
Wale from Lagos complained about his media business and how unstable power (electricity) has truncated it. He feels Nigeria is a punishment for small scale business, when there is no stable electricity to run the business effectively not to talk of the cost of data that drives him crazy daily. Wale plans traveling abroad to school and continue with his Media business.
Corruption, oppression, and injustice
Corruption, oppression, and injustice are big challenges to many Africans countries, and it is driving a lot of people to Europe. Mide, a University graduate, set to travel abroad is done with Nigeria due to high rate of corruption and injustice that he feels is driving Nigeria backwards.
His Words: “We are aware how much is budgeted every year for capital projects and expenditures in Nigeria. It will chock you that on top of billions of Naira churned out on projects, hardly will you see a complete project. Everybody wants their own cut and by the time all government stakeholders have their own share of the cake, nothing is left for the projects. And who suffers the most, the populace who will not have access to quality education, good roads, health care and social security because all money budgeted for quality of lives is in someone’s pocket, someone who care less if the populace dies in the hospital because he has all his kids abroad enjoying social amenities.
These corrupt government officials do go unpunished and that is injustice. The right of the citizens has been violated and when they come out to talk, they are held against their will for expressing themselves about the government, its cronies, or the elites.”
Security
Most African countries like part of Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, and others have been torn apart by war and insurgencies. Thousands flee these countries for safety reasons. Many have died during the war and insurgency in these regions. Thousands of people flee from these troubled countries for safety due to the fact that their government is helpless in most cases.
This has become a major reason why migrants seek for safety abroad or run to neighboring countries where there is an expectation of peace.
Mohammed from Borno in the Northern part of Nigeria shared his ordeal on how he lost his family in a day to Bokoharam insurgency and had to flee for his life finding solace in Cameroon. He is making plans to travel to Europe and never to return to Nigeria again.
Unemployment
There are opportunities in Africa, but not enough for the graduates that comes out of the Higher Institution every year. Thousands of students graduate from school with the hope of landing a good job but are faced with high competition from the little opportunity available.
Imoh from Ibadan has not been able to secure a job for five years after graduation and he is frustrated living with his parents. He has done all he could to get a job, but all proved abortive. He is bent on traveling to Europe as all hope is lost getting a good job in Nigeria.
The thirst for a better life in Europe continues to increase by the testimony of those who have left and are sending money home. The death toll of African migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea will continue to increase as they are yarning for a better life in Europe. It is up to African leaders to wake up and make a change by improving the quality of lives in Africa.
Kindly follow us on twitter:@AfricanVoice2
