The Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), had on Wednesday, lamented the irregular migration of youths from the subregion as a result of seeking greener pastures in Europe and other advanced countries.
Memounatou Ibrahima, the ECOWAS Parliament Speaker had made this revelation during the 2024 First Ordinary Session of the parliament in Abuja.
According to Ibrahima, the youths emigrated majorly, through irregular routes, a trend he said had to be stopped as soon as possible.
To this cause, she encouraged Members of Parliament to propose ways to invest in the skills West African youths posses and cultivate their potential for the subregion’s benefit.
Ibrahima’s statement was similar to the presentation at plenary by Teresa Boteli (Policy and Liaison Officer) of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Boteli had in a similar manner, talked about the emigration of African youth through dangerous routes to Europe and North America, listing out the risks the youths are exposed to on the journey including human trafficking, exploitation and death.
According to her, an approximate 5,000 migrant deaths were recorded in the year 2023 alone.
Why It Matters
An estimated 300,000 migrants from West African frequent perilous routes through the Sahara Desert and across the Mediterranean Sea annually, according to the IOM report in 2023.
The exodus of youths, otherwise called the ‘Japa Syndrome’ has become rampant, especially in Nigeria, leading to the loss of skilled African youths to Europe and its developed counterparts.
