The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that one in four individuals aged 15 years and above is considering leaving their communities, either permanently or temporarily.
This finding was part of the General Household Survey-Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 2023/2024, launched in Abuja on Thursday.
The report showed that migration preferences are higher among men, with 31.2% expressing a desire to leave their communities, compared to 19.3% of women.
Among age groups, 34.5% of individuals aged 20 to 30 showed the highest inclination to migrate, followed by 26.9% of those aged 15 to 18 and 25% of individuals aged 31 to 64. For those aged 65 and above, only 6.5% expressed such intentions.
“Among those who would like to migrate, 35.3% would prefer to move to Abuja, while 26.6% would opt for another country,” the report highlighted.
The findings also revealed a regional divide in migration preferences. People in Southern Nigeria predominantly expressed a desire to relocate abroad, while those in Northern Nigeria preferred moving to Abuja or another state within the country.
The NBS report further disclosed that 45.4% of households nationwide had at least one former member who had relocated either domestically or internationally. Notably, half of these individuals were female.
“Marriage accounted for the highest reason for relocation at 28.2%, followed by living with relatives or friends at 21.2%,” the report noted. Another 14.6% moved in search of employment or business opportunities.
Urban households were less likely to report having a former member who migrated (37%) compared to rural households (49.3%).
The GHS-Panel, a nationally representative longitudinal household survey, has been tracking household-level changes since its inception in 2010. Its insights have been instrumental in informing policies on welfare, work, and socio-economic outcomes.
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