Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development

This paper examines the determinants and flow of cross-border migration of ECOWAS citizens in order to ascertain the spatio-temporal volume of their flow into Nigeria. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were explored in the research. Data were obtained from open and close ended questionnaire surveys which were administered on 462 ECOWAS migrants based on chain referral approach and ethnographic interview was also conducted. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the socioeconomic characteristics of migrants, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to investigate the determinants the migration while the pattern of migration flow was mapped out. The results revealed that 66.02% of migrants were males while 33.98% were females. The PCA extracted a total of 7 components from 18 variables, and the 7 components accounted for 70.037% of the total variance. Socio-political issues with Eigen value of 14.358 are the most significant underlying determinant of migration in the study area. Other determinants of migration are inadequate infrastructure and public services, better fishing opportunity, economic issues, and bad agricultural condition. The pattern of migration flow showed that in general, the largest flow was from the nearby countries of Benin and Togo with volume-range 13.65% - 34.09% (between 1985 and 1994). Ethnographic interview revealed that family and social connections and ethnocultural ties contributed immensely to the determinants of migration flow for this set of migrants. However, in 1984 and earlier, there was more flow from Ghana (with volumerange 21.22% - 45.45%) than any other country in the region. Economic issues contributed immensely to the determinants of migration flow for this set of migrants. Based on the findings, the study recommends selective migration policy for Nigeria, improving the economy and infrastructure of the origin countries and conflict prevention in the ECOWAS region.

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