MigrationNewsBuhari Seeks EU’s Partnership To End Youth Migration, Says It Provokes Political Crises In Europe

ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari has sought partnership with European countries to halt the mass migration of African youth, lamenting that the trend drains the continent of the talent pool while provoking political crises in Europe.

The President made this disclosure in an article he penned to mark the participation of Nigeria at the just concluded 6th EU-AFRICA summit in Brussels, Belgium.

According to the article published in the most influential publication for the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Politico, an online/offline magazine, President Buhari remarked that Europe, despite its best efforts, will not find a sustainable remedy to the problem of mass migration by further reinforcing its Fortress Europe approach.

Insisting that more opportunities be created for Africans at home, in order to provide alternatives to the decision to take a life-threatening boat journey in order to seek them elsewhere, the president advised that the economic relationship between the two continents must be rebalanced to focus on job creation.

The article read, “By 2050, Africa’s population of 1.3 billion is set to double, making up a quarter of the world’s total. My country, Nigeria, is set to double its population to 400 million by then, surpassing the United States to become the third-largest nation in the world.

“This means a huge youthful market right on Europe’s doorstep and — with increased trade — a growing middle class with money to spend.

“However, despite burgeoning possibility, irregular northward migration from my continent drains Africa’s talent pool, while provoking political crises in the EU. Despite its best efforts, Europe will not find a sustainable remedy to this problem by further reinforcing its Fortress Europe approach.

“Instead, more opportunities must be created for Africans at home, providing alternatives to the decision to take a life-threatening boat journey in order to seek them elsewhere. The relationship between the EU and Africa must be rebalanced to power job creation. Unfortunately, today’s arrangements do just the opposite.”