National policy on labour migration 2014

Best estimates indicate that in 2009, over 5 million Nigerians lived abroad, well over half of them in sub-Saharan Africa, and primarily in West Africa. On the other hand, after the oil boom that led to economic growth in 1975, Nigeria became a country of immigration. By 2006, well over 600,000 foreigners were resident in Nigeria, 97 per cent of whom originated from other West African countries.