The ECOWAS Parliament has urged governments across West Africa to prioritise the creation of decent and sustainable jobs for young people, warning that rising unemployment and limited economic opportunities are driving irregular migration and human trafficking in the region.
The call followed a week-long citizen engagement programme in The Gambia, where lawmakers interacted with youths, returnees, community leaders and other stakeholders to examine the causes of irregular migration and propose solutions.
Presenting the report of the engagement, head of the delegation, Hon. Billay Tunkara, said participants identified unemployment, underemployment, low incomes, poor access to education and vocational training, and limited economic opportunities as major factors pushing young people towards dangerous migration routes.
The report noted that many young people believe opportunities available in their home countries do not provide a realistic path to economic advancement, strengthening the perception that migrating abroad through irregular means is the only option for a better future.
The Parliament also identified family pressure, peer influence and social media as major factors encouraging irregular migration, noting that stories of migrants who appear successful abroad often motivate others to embark on risky journeys despite awareness of the dangers involved.
Testimonies from returnees and survivors revealed experiences of deception, forced labour, exploitation, abuse, detention, family separation and psychological trauma suffered during irregular migration journeys.
However, lawmakers noted that survivors could become important voices in preventing further migration tragedies by sharing their experiences with vulnerable communities.
The Parliament stressed that awareness campaigns alone would not solve the problem, urging governments to invest in vocational education, entrepreneurship, agriculture and access to finance to reduce migration pressures.
It also called for stronger reintegration programmes for returnees, including psychological support, skills training, livelihood assistance and community acceptance.
Among its recommendations, the ECOWAS Parliament urged member states to increase investment in technology and vocational training centres, strengthen regional cooperation against migrant smuggling and human trafficking, improve intelligence sharing and deploy modern surveillance systems to enhance border security.
The lawmakers also advocated easier access to affordable funding for young entrepreneurs.
For The Gambia, the Parliament called for the speedy passage and implementation of the country’s immigration bill, as well as increased investment in communities most affected by irregular migration through job creation and development programmes.
The regional legislature further appealed to traditional leaders, religious authorities, civil society organisations, families and the media to intensify public awareness campaigns, discourage the financing of irregular migration and report suspected cases of migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
The report recommended that the ECOWAS Parliament institutionalise citizen and student engagements across member states to strengthen parliamentary oversight and ensure that recommendations from such consultations influence future policies on migration governance, regional integration and human security.
The report would be considered during the Parliament’s ordinary session before being forwarded to relevant ECOWAS institutions for implementation if adopted.
