More than 20,000 irregular migrants returned to Kano in 5 years

More than 20,000 irregular migrants returned to Kano between 2017 and 2022 as the state faces interlinked challenges of irregular migration and worsening insecurity. This is according to Halima Kassim, the project manager of Resilient Opportunities for Outreach Trade and Sustainability (ROOTS) at a media engagement on returnees and free movement project in Kano. She […]

More than 20,000 irregular migrants returned to Kano between 2017 and 2022 as the state faces interlinked challenges of irregular migration and worsening insecurity.

This is according to Halima Kassim, the project manager of Resilient Opportunities for Outreach Trade and Sustainability (ROOTS) at a media engagement on returnees and free movement project in Kano.

She said over 65 percent of Kano’s population is under 30 and unemployment slightly above 40 percent (NBS 2023) contributes to making migration a major survival strategy.

Kassim said desertification, erratic rainfall and water scarcity have reduced agricultural productivity, thereby worsening food insecurity and undermining rural livelihoods.

The returnees and free movement project aims to discourage irregular migration and to raise awareness of community resilience through sustainable livelihood initiatives.

She said increasing agricultural resilience and inclusive livelihood opportunities for vulnerable communities could help reduce migration-related risks among youth through sustainable empowerment opportunities, governance, coordination, and institutional capacity of the state.