Buhari seeks partnership with EU to stop the mass migrations of Nigerian youth

 

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