Assessment of the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa on Nigerian Irregular Migrants

This study assessed the impact and examined the challenges of EUTF for Africa on Nigerian irregular migrants. The study relied on primary data collected through in-depth interviews (IDIs) on key respondents and analysed using thematic content analysis. Findings from the study showed that EUTF for Africa was used to improve security, combating human trafficking, provision of training skills for irregular migrants who returned voluntarily, promoting awareness of the risk of embarking on dangerous trips to Europe and strengthening vulnerable communities through the provision of basic social service. However, findings among others revealed that much of the Funds were disbursed to Northern region that does not experience irregular migration to Europe, and to support the enforcement agencies for stricter border policing that result to violence against irregular migrants. More so, there is lack of participation from government institution in the formulation and implementation of projects and that much of the Funds has been used to promote European interests to stifle migration and ensure increased return of irregular migrants. The study concluded that EUTF for Africa are restrictive in nature and this continued to propel traffickers to navigate irregular migrant’s journey to other riskier routes.