Migration is the movement of people from one geographic area to another, involving permanent or temporary residence or settlement. There must be a reason(s) for migration, whether something is driving individuals away from their current location or there is an attraction to where they are going. What are these influencing factors?

1. Natural disasters: The occurrence of natural disasters such as floods, famines, droughts, earthquakes, etc., could cause people to migrate from one place to another.

2. Physical conditions: The physical conditions of a place such as climate, soil, relief can also be responsible for the migration of people, especially when such conditions are unfavorable.

3. Insecurity: Fear of insecurity due to war, political instability, etc., could cause people to migrate.

4. Differences in economic opportunities: As a result, people tend to migrate to where there are more economic opportunities, such as jobs and business transactions.

5. Change of status: Changes in status, for example, a high level of education and wealth, could cause people to migrate, for example, from rural to urban centers.

6. Differences in social services: due to the difference in the availability of water, roads, electricity, etc. people tend to move to where these services are present.

Migration has great advantages as it reduces demographic pressure on agricultural land in the region of origin; reduces demographic pressure on social services in the region of origin; supplies migrant labor in the receiving region; ensures the flow of capital to the recipient region; leads to the development of social services in the recipient region; it boosts markets in the receiving region and promotes cultural integration, for example, intermarriage in the receiving region. On the other hand, it could be disadvantageous since it generates social vices such as crime and drug trafficking in the receiving region; increases the high cost of living in the receiving region; generates pressure on social services in the recipient region; it leads to the loss of healthy men and youth in the region of origin; leads to housing and transportation congestion in the receiving region; it leads to decreased production in the source region and leads to cultural disintegration in the destination region.

Solutions to rural-urban migrations

One of the main forms of migration that tends to create problems in all developing countries is rural-urban migration. Since we recognize that this form of migration is a significant problem, solutions must be provided to avoid overcrowding in receiving regions. Solutions to rural-urban migration problems include:

1. Provision of social services: The provision of social services such as water, electricity, cinemas, roads and telephones in rural areas will go a long way in reducing the rate at which young people move to urban areas.

2. Transport from traditional agriculture to modern agriculture: This will allow youth to participate in agriculture as the system will make agriculture interesting.

3. Establishment of Industries: The establishment of industries, projects and businesses that will absorb the rural working population and reverse the labor movement will go a long way in reducing the rural-urban drift.

4. Establishment of educational institutions: The establishment of colleges and other higher education institutions in rural areas will also help reduce movement to urban centers.

5. Establishment of corporate branches: Government departments, commercial companies and financial institutions should be encouraged to establish their branches in rural areas.

6. Provision of recreational facilities: If the recreational facilities such as stadiums, swimming pools, movie theaters, amusement parks, etc. are available in rural areas, this will reduce the propensity of young people to move to urban areas.