The ECOWAS parliament seeks to explore strengthening the private sector as an avenue to halt the growing incidence of irregular migration.

This is a resolution reached during the 3-day parliamentary sensitization forum on migration in West Africa, an event holding in Niamey, the capital of Niger.

The parliamentarians noted the genuine reasons for the departure of young migrants from their countries of origin include the quest for better living conditions, a situation stemming from lack of employment and ineffective government policies to address the situation.

They are calling on governments of ECOWAS member countries to be repositioned to ensure the socio-economic standards of their people are on the upward scale.

The overall objective of the forum is to discuss migration-related issues in general, and the socio-economic consequences in West Africa with a view to proffering solutions.