Migrants and the National Question: A Study of the Nigerian Migration Experience

Matthew Enenche Ogwuche

Matthew Enenche Ogwuche

Keywords: Migration, Internal Migration, Migrants, National Question and Migration Experience

Abstract

This paper examined the proposition whether centuries of internal migration by various ethnic groups in Nigeria before, during and after colonial rule and the emergence of Nigeria as an independent nation-state has helped to achieve national unity, national identity, national integration and inclusiveness (all issues of interest to the concept of the “National Question”). The methodology adopted saw the development and distribution of 110 research questionnaires to respondents of Nigeria’s three major ethnic groups and 20 other minority ethnic groups resident in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, through the purposive sampling technique to generate the primary data that was the basis of the data analysis in the paper. Secondary data was also generated both online and offline to support the primary data. Major findings revealed that unlike most nation-states in the industrialized North like the USA, Britain and Germany which have been able to achieve some high degree of integration and national identity from the diverse immigrants, who arrived there and largely able to resolve its National Question, Nigeria has not been able to achieve the same goal and it is still a work-in- progress. The paper recommends further constitutional action similar to the Federal Character principle and sanctions regimes to create a more enabling environment for attaining national inclusiveness.

Copyright Notice:

The Articles published in this Journal are published under license and is subject to copyright, reserved by the Centre of Excellence in Migration and Global Studies, National Open University of Nigeria. All works (including texts, images, graphs, tables, diagrams, photographs and statistical data) may be used for non-commercial purpose, citing appropriately the original work.