Former Governor of Ekiti State and ex-Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has urged African leaders to dismantle barriers to intra-African mobility by creating policies that allow Africans to move, work and belong with dignity across the continent.
Fayemi made the call while delivering a keynote address at a continental governance forum, where he said Africa’s integration would remain elusive unless citizens are given the freedom to live and contribute meaningfully beyond their national borders.
Speaking at the CODESRIA 2026 Democratic Governance Institute, organised in collaboration with the Centre for Migration Studies, University of Ghana, held in Ilishan, Ogun State, Nigeria, Dr Fayemi stressed that Africa’s vision of integration must be reflected in the ability of Africans to move, work and belong across the continent with dignity, rights and opportunity.
His presentation, titled _Moving Africa: Labour Mobility, Free Movement and the Democratic Governance of Belonging,_ examined the relationship between human mobility, regional integration and democratic governance in Africa.
The former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum argued that Africa’s approach to migration must move beyond security and border management to address deeper questions of citizenship, belonging, labour mobility and the opportunities that free movement presents for collective development.
“At a time when we are working towards a more integrated African market through the AfCFTA, the continued restrictions on the movement of Africans across our borders raise important questions about the kind of continental integration we seek to achieve,” Fayemi said.
Drawing on his experiences with ECOWAS and the African Union, Fayemi outlined ten policy proposals for strengthening free movement, protecting migrant workers, improving regional cooperation and ensuring that mobility contributes meaningfully to Africa’s development.