Determinants of Cross Border Migration in North-East Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

This paper attempts to identify key driving factors of migration into the North East Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria — an area recently characterized by daunting security challenges coined insurgency. Using three states as sample from among the five States in the Zone, data for the study was generated through structured questionnaire, administered to 120 respondents, drawn from military, paramilitary officials and community leaders in the selected States. Descriptive, inferential and multinomial logistic models were used to analyses the data. The results of the analyses reveal that that: on daily bases immigrants of both sexes predominantly between 18 and 40 years of age enter into Nigeria through these states; The paper recommends that though this influx has its merit and demerit, there should be adequate and improved border control to curb the influx of immigrants especially irregular immigrants into Nigeria, as this will reduce the pressure on available resources and infrastructure, and will to an extent curb the level of insecurity and fear that manifests in this Zone.