Global migration needs a rethink

The journey from Lagos to Gran Canaria is 2,700 nautical miles. Three men sat on the rudder of a ship for 11 days, barely above the waterline. It is clear that the global migration system needs a rethink.

We have been working on displacement and economic opportunity in West Africa throughout 2022, and while Europe is the destination for just a small proportion of migrants, the toll on the individual and their families is significant.

The global migration system continues to fail those who seek opportunities outside of their home regions. Yet their determination is blocked by global north governments that try to exercise hegemony over movement – and, in turn, hegemony over opportunity. No-one should have to sit on the rudder of a boat for an hour, let alone 11 days.