ELUCIDATE THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THE INCREASING QUEST OF NIGERIAN YOUTHS TO TRAVEL ABROAD, THE DANGERS, CAUSES AND BEST WAYS OF STOPPING IT

INTRODUCTION

It is indeed obvious that the economic crises in Nigeria had resulted to an ever burning passion and desire to travel abroad by the Nigerian youths seeking for a greener pasture. Nigeria is a country blessed with so many natural resources that when properly harnessed will effect positively the economy. The increasing quest of Nigerian youths to travel abroad will definitely bring about a minus in the economy, because youths are the future leaders of every nation, hence when we lost our youths to other nations then we have lost our leaders of tomorrow who are to lead our nation to greatness.

When the mind of the youths are set outside Nigeria, then they shall be no point having them planning on what to do to better the country. Among the youth are found the man power any nation needs to boost her economy, so if Nigerian youths all traveled abroad then the economy will be affected negatively.

The youths of any country has a great role to play towards the economic success or failure of their country. Youths are important part of the Nigerian population. They are expected to be the real power and sound brain behind production of goods and services, agriculture, science/new invention and entertainment industries. If they are not there these sections suffers some setback and shall definitely be headed towards failure. And this shall have a dangerous effect on the economy thereby setting the country backward economically.

THE DANGERS

Youths stand the chance of losing their lives as they made their way through the Sahara Desert.

The country suffers economic set back because, in the youths are found needed man power to boost the economy.

Amidst our youths are found great leaders and great minds, hence if our youths are allowed to travel out of the country, leaders and great minds needed to drive the nation tomorrow shall be nowhere to be found.

The image of our dear country is at stack because most youths who travel abroad get themselves in crimes such as: robbery, kidnapping and drug business and also in vices like prostitution. Most prison in the western world a populated by the Nigerian youths while a reasonable number of them had been killed.

Education in Nigeria is also greatly affected when youths abandoned their studies in search of a greener pasture outside the Nigerian border.

CAUSES

The number one reason why a “good score” of Nigerian youths travel abroad is poverty, the poverty rate in Nigeria is high. We are in a country where the rich keep on getting richer while the poor keeps on getting poorer. Our politicians and leaders have failed woefully; a good number of them are interested in enriching themselves not having the good of the nation in mind. Because of this, youths full of life wants to exonerate themselves from penury and the way out is to travel of the poverty stricken country.

 Unemployment is also another major reason why there is an increasing quest of Nigerian youths traveling abroad. A greater percentage of Nigerian graduates after burning the mid night candles and years in school are left unemployed, year after year.

Lack of Foreign Investors: when foreigners are encouraged to invest in the country by making the necessary facilities available, things will begin to unfold well and the economy will be better to accommodate all.

Bad Leaders: Nigeria youths had lost hope on their so called leaders who have failed them. When a leader is good, the people rejoice but when a leader is bad the people suffers. Because Nigerians are suffering as a result of bad leadership, youths are eager and passionate escape the suffering by migrating from the country.

Laziness on the part of some Nigerian youths, recently the president Gen. Muhammadu Buhari gave a general remark that “Nigerian Youths are lazy,” be it as it may, not all Nigerian youths are lazy, so the president is very wrong to have generalized that. But it can be proved that some Nigerian youths’ lazy who are after what I called, “quick money” they have refused to work rather wasting their time watching European leagues and gambling.

WAYS OF STOPPING IT

Youths Empowerment Programs should be encouraged so as to empower and engage the youths, once this is achieved they will have little or no time to think of travelling abroad.

Employment Opportunity: The government should create employment opportunity for the unemployed Nigerian youths who are at home jobless.

The youths should be encouraged out of laziness by giving them grant so that they can venture in Agriculture and become self employed.

The Nigerian government should find means of ameliorating the suffering of an average Nigerian. When poverty in Nigeria is reduced then the youths will have no reason to travel abroad.

Building of Industries: the government should build industries because; it will help the economy grow.

Finally the government should enact laws that checkmate the unnecessary migration of youths to other countries.   

MARTINS FRANCIS IFEANYICHUKWU