NIS Warns Skills Gap May Fuel Unemployment, Insecurity in Nigeria

NIS Warns Skills Gap May Fuel Unemployment, Insecurity in Nigeria

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has warned that the growing skills gap in Nigeria could worsen youth unemployment, fuel insecurity, and intensify irregular migration if urgent steps are not taken to equip young people with relevant, market-driven skills.

A senior immigration official, speaking at a recent public forum in Abuja, said the mismatch between the skills possessed by many Nigerian youths and the needs of the modern labour market has become a major socio-economic and security concern. According to the official, millions of young Nigerians remain unemployed or underemployed despite holding academic qualifications, largely due to a lack of practical and technical competencies.

The NIS noted that prolonged joblessness among youths increases vulnerability to crime, social unrest, and recruitment by criminal networks, while also driving the surge in irregular migration as young people seek better opportunities abroad.

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Recent labour market analyses support the warning, showing that Nigeria must create millions of new jobs annually to keep pace with its rapidly growing population. Experts argue that without deliberate investment in technical and vocational education, the country risks compounding its unemployment crisis and weakening national stability.

The warning comes amid renewed concerns over the “japa” trend, where skilled professionals such as doctors, engineers and ICT experts leave Nigeria for opportunities overseas, further depleting the country’s human capital base.

In response, the Federal Government has rolled out several initiatives aimed at closing the skills gap, including expanded Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, youth employment schemes and partnerships with the private sector to provide workplace-ready skills. Officials say thousands of young Nigerians are already benefiting from ongoing skills acquisition programmes nationwide.

However, stakeholders insist that more needs to be done. Education and labour experts have called for curriculum reforms, stronger industry-school collaboration, and increased funding for skills development, particularly in technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and the digital economy.

They argue that aligning education with labour market demands remains critical to reducing unemployment, curbing insecurity, and promoting sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.

NIS Warns Skills Gap May Fuel Unemployment, Insecurity in Nigeria