VULNERABILITY OF RESIDENCE TO FORCED MIGRATION IN NIGERIA

On the place of departure and destination, migration has both beneficial and detrimental effects with increasing rates of residents from rural to urban centres or foreign countries. Forced rates of migration are the push factors that drive individuals away from their place of residence, while pull factors are the beneficial conditions that attract individuals to a new residence. In 2021, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees stated that around 2.2 million Nigerians had to leave their homes within the country because of conflict, communal violence, and natural disasters. This research examines how residents in Nigeria are at risk of being forced to migrate. It specifically investigates the causes and impacts of forced displacement. Data from the United Nations Population Division about migration rate and rural/urban population in Nigeria were examined and literature related to the study was also reviewed. Between 2012 and 2016, there was a 51.3% increase in the rural population and a 48.7% increase in the urban population, according to the findings. The urban population kept increasing and reached its highest point at 52.7% in 2021. In 2012, the immigration rate was 0.25 per 1,000 population, while the emigration rate declined in 2015, 2019, 2018, and 2021 to -0.79, -0.51, -0.41, and -0.36 per 1,000 population respectively. The rural population moved to urban areas mostly because of economic factors, with security concerns following behind. These results highlight the importance of the Nigerian government and other key players in addressing economic shocks and insecurity factors that lead to involuntary migration, while also promoting conditions conducive to rural development.