Internal Migration and The Challenges of Food Security in Nigeria

Abstract

Food is an indispensable component of human existence. However, the concern for food security has continued to pose a great challenge to the entire globe, with worsening effect on developing countries including Nigeria. This paper, therefore, examines internal migration and the challenges of food security in Nigeria. The paper argues that population growth has become one of the greatest demographic challenges in Nigeria which has contributed to internal migration, with attendant conflicts of interests, which have resulted in physical crises on daily basis, especially, the issue of Fulani herdsmen and crop farmers. The paper also looks at internal migration of the youth from the rural to the urban areas as a consequence of population growth. The rural-urban migration of youth in search of greener pastures has led to competition for food and other valuable resources at the destination region; it has also brought about shortage of labour force at the source region. The paper, therefore, recommends that government should bring together stakeholders to formulate policies and laws which will state the scope and limits of migrants and punish infringers of such laws; curb migration from rural areas through investment in rural development in areas of electrification, industries, health, water resources, education; and provide entrepreneurship education at all levels to encourage self-sufficiency among the youth in the country.