Impact of COVID-19 on internal migration and labour markets in Nigeria

Tayo Ajala, Gloria Olisenekwu and Ekundayo Arogundade

Chapter 6 in Handbook of Research on Migration, COVID-19 and Cities, 2025, pp 89-105 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Internal migration in Nigeria is driven by low agricultural productivity, low income, land scarcity, poor socio-economic structures, and more. Beyond the health implications of COVID-19, the pandemic brought additional complexity to internal migrants’ livelihoods. We assessed the extent to which COVID-19 impacted internal migrants’ socio-economic status, their access to services, and their livelihood activities. Focusing on Federal Capital Territory and Lagos, the study relied on a mix of quantitative and qualitative data collection. We found an increase in unemployment during the pandemic due to job losses resulting from a combination of factors, including imposed restrictions. Many internal migrants struggled to access amenities; although more than half of the surveyed households own a piece of land, the majority of internal migrants are tenants. The pandemic revealed the importance of improved basic amenities, equity in the distribution of palliatives, and implementation of entrepreneurial-friendly policies that will allow businesses to thrive.

Keywords: Internal Migration; COVID-19; Rural-Urban Migration; Government Response (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035301225
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