President Muhammadu Buhari has moved to stop the mass
migration of Nigerian youth as he laments that the trend is
'draining Africa's talent pool'.
The president who spoke in Brussels, Belgium, at the 6th EU-
AFRICA, is seeking partnership with European countries to
stop the trend.
According to an article published on the Politico,
online/offline magazine, Buhari said, "By 2050, Africa's
population of 1.3 billion is set to double, making upa quarter of
the world's total. My country, Nigeria, is set to double its
population to 400 milion 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 crlses 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-
thre#tening 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.
For instance, subsidy-driven surpluses of European milk are
powdered and sent to Africa, decimating its dairy industry. It is
a similar story when it comes to wheat and poultry production.
Despite having the most underutilised arable land in the world,
Africa remains a net food importer."
The president noted that over €50 billion is pushed into
markets in Europe to help them produce cheaper food. This, he
explained, keeps Africa at the losing end.
With its main export market distorted against them, African
countries are deprived of foreign exchange, and investment in
agriculture is stifled." Buhari said
