Category: Sunday Interview

Prof Toyin Falola, a globally renowned scholar, is a Professor of History, a Distinguished University Professor, and the Sanger and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities, at the University of Texas at Austin. A leading expert on the African Diaspora and Global migrations, in this interview with OLAYINKA OYEGBILE, Deputy Editor, he speaks on a wide range of issues regarding African migrations and their consequences.

Migration has become something of a major concern to the world. With Africans at the receiving end, what can be done to stem the tide of migration, especially illegal migration?

Migration has been with us as far back as the origin of humankind. Africans, as the originators of humankind, migrated to expand the world. The Bantu migration from the area of modern-day Cameroon populated Southern Africa. My city, Ibadan, was established in the 1830s, by refugees. Thus, the movement of people is not a new phenomenon.

Contemporary migration is driven by economic needs. However, when the people migrate in search of greener pastures (which can be provided by their government but is hindered because of leadership failure), it becomes an issue of grave concern for the home country. When people migrate, they go to another country with their human resources. Ironically, most of these people are already developed, only to move to other places with their education and skill. The new country benefits immensely from their already developed talents and brain power. It is not surprising, therefore, that we hear about Nigerians (Africans generally) making important strides in the Diaspora. It is not that these people cannot use the human resources they have to the benefit of their home country; however, the failure to provide the basic amenities needed to foster talent maximization in Nigeria, and other African cultures, has been the major drive for migration into a new world. People naturally always want to travel to places where their talents are appreciated.

To address the increasing migration of the African people, the government has important things to do, to forestall many other migration challenges. The government must provide facilities such as good road infrastructure, good medical health centers, and strong policy statements that would help to protect the people and their activities, among other things. Youths must be given the opportunities to use their talents and have jobs. Without the assurance offered to this demographic, it would be difficult to convince them to use their human resources to the fullest potential in favor of the country.

Should they not be afraid of xenophobia?

Xenophobia is disturbingly at a record high in recent years, and we have seen the evils of xenophobia through political decision-making across the world. Many countries have responded to the migration crisis by placing more restrictions on immigration and have striven to build more borders and security. However, this is only worsening the problem. Adding more restrictions and borders will not stop illegal immigration or halt the influx of legal migration and death brought by the desperate attempt to migrate.

Instead of implementing zero-tolerance policies, countries around the world should make it easier to legally migrate and should offer more opportunities to legally migrate. In this way, the migration process will be better regulated and organized. It is important to note that to a reasonable extent, migrants help national economies, so it is reasonable and advantageous to help the migrants in any way possible. For example, countries should offer more work visas. Additionally, there should be more processing centers on the shores of countries where migrants are accepted. Generally, the key is to fix the broken system rather than to attack the migrants.

Is migration now a survival option or could its intensity be decreased?

Migration is a natural phenomenon. All living things, including even some plants, do migrate. Nothing can prevent human beings from migrating. Human beings are always on the move. Migration is as old as mankind. In essence, migration is not alien to us, and it is not out of place to say that it is a natural phenomenon that cannot be jettisoned from human experience. However, apart from the forceful migration of blacks from their homelands, the past century has seen a higher number of people moving from one place to the other. Many have migrated from their homelands for a better country. The reasons for this are not far-fetched. Many migrate to seek better opportunities for themselves and their families. Some migrate due to civil wars, terrorist attacks and general insecurity. For some, it is a luxury that must be fulfilled. That is, some migrate as a form of achievement. All these factors have contributed to the rise in migration. The rise in migration comes with the rise of illegal migration. However, we live in a utopian state, so migration cannot be stopped.

What can be curbed is illegal migration, which is a bane to most western countries. One of such is the crossing of the Mediterranean Sea by Africans. The whole situation of crossing the Mediterranean has caused great distress to illegal immigrants, western countries, and the world at large. It has become a humanitarian crisis. A humanitarian crisis that cannot be overlooked. People trying to illegally migrate are sometimes forced into slavery while some die on the high sea.

There is no magic wand to end illegal migration or even a holistic solution to prevent it. However, there are several ways in which we can try to stem the tide of migration and illegal ones. Contrary to popular opinion, no country is an Eldorado, a place of riches and splendour, an imaginary country or city abounding in gold, or a place of great abundance. Notwithstanding, African governments can start the process of curbing migration, especially the illegal ones, by creating suitable conditions to live. The governments must solve the problem of security that is rendering most of the citizenry homeless, fatherless, motherless, and childless. They must solve the humanitarian crisis of inadequate living amenities that will better the lives of their citizens.

What is the root cause of migration of Africans to the West after decolonization? 

First, it may be of use to point out that there is no “after decolonization” because we are still decolonizing. When we talk of coloniality and colonialism, we talk about foreign political and economic structures. We talk about structures that are presented as the only valid structures. What people often forget is that there is a mental dimension to colonialism – the attitude that the ways of life of colonial masters and their epistemic structure are the only valid way of living and epistemic judgment. So, this affects African minds to think that the western paradigms are the universal paradigms for judging what is morally, politically, economically and epistemologically right. Therefore, this has affected Africans to think that they must taste the western way of life before essence can be fulfilled. The colonialists made sure of this by sending the brilliant ones abroad to study, to be able to incorporate them into the western world and install some western thinking. Over time, this has passed as a culture. That colonialists are not occupying our spaces anymore does not entirely define decolonization. There is still an attitude of the mind that has made sure that Africans seek for help from the West on socioeconomic and political issues. Succinctly, Africans and their leaders are all blame worthy of the attitude of seeing the West as the ideal. It is seeing the West as the ideal abode that is the number one cause of migration of Africans to the West even years after independence.

The immediate migration of Africans to the West after colonization was particularly prompted by the desire for higher education. Those who received education from the West returned home and became leaders in their countries manning the civil service, the military, the police and even commerce. Insecure environment, poor quality of infrastructure, minimum opportunities, lack of access to good health facilities, little or no safety net for job opportunities, and stringent laws for thriving economies, among others, are the reasons why the people keep traveling in their numbers after independence. These things are provided in places where they migrate to, so they try to encourage others to make similar decisions concerning their lives. Also, people migrate from Africa to the other world because of quality education that is lacking in the African environment. Many people go abroad to have access to modern equipment, contemporary machines, and new technologies, among many others, in their quest to enrich themselves intellectually. When all these are provided in the African countries, it will reduce the rate at which people travel overseas.

Why do Nigerian youths want to leave the country?

People have always moved from one location to the other over the ages, and the reasons for this have always been linked to the push and pull factors. People tend to relocate when their present location no longer serves their purpose. This could be as a result of war, drought, famine, political instability, sociopolitical ambience or any other condition that deprives them of their socioeconomic well-being, growth and satisfaction. The choice of relocation then depends on the capacity of the intended location to serve this deprived purpose through an auspicious ambience. This paradigm of migratory interpretation is what has been described as the push and pull factors, or rather necessities for migration. Migration, as I’ve noted, is, in most cases, a matter of necessity for the migrants. This summarizes what we are experiencing today among the Nigerian youths and the gory picture of their relentless efforts to achieve this, even at the cost of their lives. To be sure, these youths only symbolize the general feel of the society as they are not the only ones with the desire to emigrate. Therefore, it is safe to say that Nigerian youths struggle to leave the country in order to end or at least escape the perpetual abuse of their being by the Nigerian state.

If migrations promote drug trafficking and prostitution, what should the government do?

Aside for the measure of reiteration, I am not in any doubt that the government is at a loss as to what to do to stem the tide of migration, especially migration that promotes criminal activities like drug trafficking, prostitution, slavery and the like. This is more so in the recent time when we consider loads of reports on these activities and the unrestrained access to experts in this area by the government. That said, I think we need to constantly acknowledge the role of the vulnerability of victims of these activities, which is largely created by the state itself. The abusive relationship between the state and the society has left this people hopeless, that risking it all has become the only option for them to survive. However, most victims of this underground system go about this ignorantly, as they often find out themselves and confess, accordingly. The thing is, most of these guys have so much lost hope in the system that they will prefer to invest over a million naira on an illegal emigration process that later ends them in trouble, than to invest this money to start a venture in Nigeria. Put differently, the level of distrust between the leadership and the followership has reached the clime at which the followership no longer thinks there is a need to continue to press for avenues to survive in the state. Added to this is the promise of a better future where they are promised to be taken to. They have no qualms trusting these sources because of their sophisticated network and the news they often hear about kinsmen living abroad, even though many of them are fake.

News of Nigerians abroad tends to be negative; how can the country rebrand itself?

Nigeria is a very complicated entity; as such, its people are equally complicated. You can describe states like China, the United States, Russia and Britain in a vivid term not too contradictory – but not Nigeria. This lack of identity plays on the psyche of its people. Citizens’ diplomacy is meant to be promoted by the nationals of a state abroad through their various engagements with their hosts. But when you export goods to another country from a company that neither refines nor processes its goods, you are bound to have the same image Nigerians are known for abroad. You will find Nigerians promoting the vitality of the country abroad, and in the same piece, you find those promoting its rot. The quantity and quality of both strands is debatable, as it is hard to ascertain. I’ve said it elsewhere that Nigeria is not yet a nation, as the process of nation-building has not yet begun. To build a nation is to have a national philosophy and consciousness, which we do not have. Even when a Nigerian commits an offence abroad, with a grounded Nigerian identity in the international community, which would always go before the Nigerian, this would be considered an isolated case and cannot be used to characterize every Nigerian. This is more so in that with a national philosophy imbibed in every Nigerian, cohesion would be ascertained, the tide of migration for “greener pasture” would be stemmed, and the Nigeria that everyone would be proud of would be assured. On a general note, the effect of this is that the level of mistrust between the leaders and the led would have been reduced to the barest minimum that aids patriotism. Putting all of this in a simple word, if Nigeria could put its house in order through a successful process of cultural revitalization, then we wouldn’t have to be talking about redeeming its image abroad because as they say, charity begins at home; you don’t give what you don’t have.

Is the Nigerian diaspora useful to Nigeria?

Definitely! Every citizen of a country in the diaspora is an asset to his/her home country. Therefore, the UNDP some decades back launched a program it tagged Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN). The reason for this, as it could be readily deduced from the name of the program, was to ensure that professionals of a country abroad share with their home country – either the government through its ministries, agencies, parastatals and all, or private entities, their experience and expertise knowledge on key noted programmes these entities are working on or choose to work on. The same model of synergy is currently being promoted by the African Union. It is a common axiomatic remark in international relations that no country is an inland to itself. Adding to this is the fact that knowledge, especially in the area of science and technology, which is a major drive in the development of nations, is moving at a pace that is difficult for countries like Nigeria to keep up with. Therefore, it is important that a viable loop is created between these countries and their diaspora asset.

Is it advisable that Africans entering Nigeria should be granted Visas or not?

Recently in Egypt, President Muhammad Buhari announced that as of January 2020, Africans will not need visas to enter Nigeria but will only be granted visa on arrival. Many have applauded the decision as worthy of the giant of Africa.

However, we need strategic reflections on the security implications if people without addresses and zip-codes will create additional security problems, especially those coming from the Sahel. There is no problem with other Africans coming to Nigeria, but problems arise when the security of the nation is not put under consideration. With terrorist groups now taking their acts everywhere, careful instruments of screening must be put in place to check the authenticity of passports.   So, from the security perspective, caution is needed.

On the other hand, when it comes to free trade and tourism, it is advisable to give visas on arrival. With no visa trouble, Nigeria becomes favorable to tourists and foreign businesses. Overall, it is advisable that Africans entering Nigeria should be encouraged with the understanding that the country develops the infrastructure to take care of its own people. The risk of a free entrance outweighs the risk of granting them visa on arrival. It is not a restriction policy. Rather, it is a policy of caution.

What is the situation of Nigerian prostitutes in Europe?

For quite some time, Nigerians have dominated the prostitution markets in Europe. Italy used to be the den of Nigerian prostitutes. These days, they have extended their territories to countries like Germany, Estonia, France and other European countries. The problem with prostitution by Nigerians in Europe is that the situation is twinned. That is, prostitution by Nigerians in Europe is associated or linked with human trafficking, sexual exploitation and criminal activities. Therefore, the situation of Nigerian prostitutes has been tagged “modern day slavery.” Women from Nigeria and Africa are most times shipped through boats to the coast of Italy. There are criminal syndicates and Mafia that are usually waiting for the arrival of these women. They sometimes pretend to want to help but subsequently put these women in holes where they will be molested and then turned into prostitutes. The other way of getting Nigerian women to be prostitutes in Europe is by lying to them that there are jobs for them in these countries. The reality sets in when they get to these countries, and they realize it’s not all roses. They are then housed and introduced to the real nature of their jobs. However, some willingly leave Nigeria knowing they are going to Europe for prostitution. The situation is becoming alarming, and it is another humanitarian crisis. There are reports that the prostitutes are not just only short paid but also made to live in the harshest conditions. They make the money while it is ridiculously shared amongst their traffickers. The case of is a classic case of labour exploitation – not just labour exploitation but a case of dehumanization. No human being should be subjected to the living conditions of these prostitutes.

How can the government provide education to correct the misleading generalization about Nigerians travelling to other places where they would not succeed?

I mentioned earlier how Nigerians see the West as the ideal place. There is a need for reorientation. It starts with the Nigerian government through foreign affairs ministry to put out informative jingles about the problems associated with travelling to countries where success is not guaranteed. The Nigerian government through all forms of informative media must re-orientate its people to desist from going to places where they will be enslaved or pushed into the prostitution industries. It is good to note that the education will not bear any fruit if the Nigerian government cannot provide suitable living conditions in Nigeria. It is when this is done that people can see that life here in Nigeria is better than travelling to places where they may not succeed. The inherent problem with migration is not just about failures of one’s country but also the problem of dashed hope – dashed hope in the sense that one hopes one’s fortune will change once one travels out, only to get to the receiving country and meet utter disappointment. These are facts that should be made known to the public. We cannot also leave everything at the table of the government.

What can keep Nigerian youths at home?

I think this has been addressed earlier on. But I will add here that there is nothing wrong with migration of people so far as it doesn’t affect the home country, negatively. Countries like Cuba make revenue from the exportation of their medical staff to other countries that are in need of their expertise. Ordinarily, given the population of Nigeria, there should be no problem with people whose choice it is to migrate. However, the trend, especially in the health sector, is becoming worrisome. I don’t know how far this is true, but there are reports that despite the massive flight in this sector, we still have some unemployed doctors. If that should be the case, then the condition of the country has become worse than we can even imagine or admit. Mind you, those on flight in this sector not only do because of the financial reward, but also because of the general poor condition of practicing as facilities remain in the mood of the first industrial revolution. Some brilliant and hardworking nurses would choose to leave the country because they can’t stand the demeaning relationship between themselves and the doctors, which is quite different other climes where professionalism prevails over mediocrity. Generally, the condition we have is a house turned against itself, and unless this house is put into order, things will continue to get worse as they’ve always been since we claimed to have gotten independence. To put the house in order is to strengthen our institutions, make government responsive, and re-engineer the relationship between the society and the state.