The Intersection of Irregular Migration and Human Trafficking in Nigeria: Statutory, Policy, and Enforcement Challenges under the Immigration Act, 2015

Irregular migration and human trafficking remain pressing challenges within Nigeria’s migration landscape. Positioned strategically in West and Central Africa, Nigeria shares extensive borders with the Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Chad, and Cameroon, making it a major source, transit, and destination country for migrants and trafficked persons. The porous and weakly monitored borders facilitate cross-border movements that often blur the lines between irregular migration and human trafficking. This study examines the statutory, policy, and enforcement challenges confronting Nigeria’s response to these intertwined phenomena under the Immigration Act,2015. References to Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic are limited to their relevance as neighbouring states affected by cross-border migration and trafficking dynamics. The research adopts a qualitative doctrinal approach, drawing on statutory analysis, policy review, and relevant academic literature to evaluate the effectiveness of Nigeria’s migration governance framework. The doctrinal analysis is particularly suitable for this study because it focuses on the systematic examination, interpretation, and analysis of relevant legal rules, statutes, judicial decisions, policy instruments and international legal frameworks on the subject. Findings reveal significant gaps in law enforcement, inter-agency coordination, and border management, especially along Nigeria’s frontiers with its four neighbouring states. The study also identifies limited institutional capacity, overlapping mandates between the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the inadequate regional cooperation as key impediments to effective implementation. The article recommends enhanced inter-agency collaboration and comprehensive border governance with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. It concludes that sustainable progress requires a holistic, rights-based, and regionally coordinated approach to migration control and anti-trafficking efforts, ensuring that the objectives of the Immigration Act,2015, are effectively realized.