A newly released independent audit by the Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR) has drawn a direct connection between federal policymaking, local development efforts, and the underlying drivers of irregular migration in Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency.
The report, covering the 2022–2026 tenure of Hon. Prince Henry Odi Okojie, offers a detailed examination of how legislative activity and constituency interventions intersect with youth unemployment, insecurity, and economic opportunity—factors widely recognized as key triggers of migration from southern Nigeria.
Authored by IYAMIDR’s Executive Director, Solomon Okoduwa, the audit relies on National Assembly records and media documentation from Vanguard, ThisDay, and The Nation between 2024 and 2025.
Central to the assessment is Okojie’s leadership as Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), a role the organization considers strategically important to economic stability. According to the audit, committee oversight activities included hearings that pressed for operational timelines for the Port Harcourt Refinery, an issue with broader implications for fuel availability, transport costs, and inflation.
These economic variables, the report argues, directly influence the viability of small and medium-scale enterprises and, by extension, youth employment prospects.
The lawmaker is also credited with advocating for increased Nigerian participation in midstream oil and gas operations, a move framed as a pathway to expanding technical employment opportunities.
In parallel, the audit notes his sponsorship of security-related motions, including calls for the establishment of a military base in Uromi and improved coordination among security agencies to address rising cases of kidnapping and banditry in the region.
Despite these efforts, IYAMIDR raises concerns about the absence of verifiable employment data linked to legislative actions.
The report recommends the establishment of a formal tracking system, described as a “Midstream Youth Employment Register,” to document job placements attributable to committee decisions and policies, particularly for constituents in Edo State.
At the constituency level, the audit documents a range of projects aimed at addressing economic hardship and improving living conditions.
These include the installation of more than 90 solar-powered streetlights across communities such as Uromi, Ubiaja, Afuda, and Ewohimi, a development said to have extended trading hours and improved security for small businesses.
Road expansion near Uromi General Hospital and flood control works in parts of the constituency are also highlighted as measures that facilitate access to healthcare and reduce disruptions to agricultural and commercial activities.
The report further points to the construction of a solar-lit motor park and open-stall market in Uzea, describing these as income-generating hubs for traders and transport operators. Direct financial interventions are also noted, with monthly business grants ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦1,000,000 reportedly distributed to entrepreneurs, alongside targeted support for more than 1,000 women and the provision of vocational tools to young people.
In the area of human capital development, IYAMIDR cites the near-completion of reconstruction work at Our Lady’s of Lourdes Girls’ Grammar School in Uromi, linking increased access to education for girls with reduced vulnerability to trafficking and irregular migration. The operationalization of health centers across Esanland is similarly framed as part of a broader effort to improve social welfare and stability.
The audit also acknowledges documented cases of constituents securing employment in federal institutions, including the civil service, healthcare sector, and law enforcement agencies. Such placements, the organization notes, represent a critical pathway away from irregular migration by providing stable and formal sources of income.
While recognizing these interventions, IYAMIDR stops short of endorsing the lawmaker’s overall performance, instead issuing what it describes as a conditional assessment.
The organization outlines a set of benchmarks for the 2026–2030 period, including the need for greater legislative transparency through regular public reporting of bills, motions, and their employment impact on local communities.
It also calls for the timely delivery of proposed health and agricultural institutes, with an emphasis on incorporating reintegration programs for returning migrants.
Additional recommendations include the adoption of a policy framework allocating a fixed percentage of constituency project funds to maintenance, as well as a shift from security proposals to measurable outcomes, such as the actual commissioning of a military base and the publication of verifiable crime data.
The report further urges the commissioning of an independent study on migration trends in Esanland to better align future policies with the root causes of migration.
IYAMIDR concludes that while Hon. Okojie’s tenure reflects a combination of federal-level influence and local development initiatives, the long-term impact of these efforts will depend on transparency, accountability, and measurable improvements in employment and security indicators.
The organization has indicated that it will conduct a follow-up compliance review in the second quarter of 2028, with the possibility of issuing updated advisories to constituents, development partners, and government agencies based on future findings.
