Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) has become a widespread problem throughout Africa, driven by a multifaceted combination of social, political, economic, and environmental factors. Despite the fact that SOM is routinely a voluntary undertaking, particularly on the part of the prospective migrants, it has continued to result in a devastating outcome for the countries of initial departure, transit, and destination in Africa and beyond.

Though the dynamism in the trends and patterns of SOM in Africa appear to be country/society specific, determinants such as poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, greed and corruption are recognized as common instigators. SOM in Africa has become more concerning due to the demographic priming of the continent as a harbor for most of the youth population across the globe.

Smuggling of Migrants in Africa offers valuable insights on all components of SOM in Africa and beyond: that is, the actors, causes, costs, networks, consequences and remedies. It objectively identifies the trends and dynamics of SOM in Africa by interrogating what constitutes tradition and what constitutes modernity. This book nevertheless explores the un-intended consequences of SOM in Africa, such as increased vulnerability to exploitation, human rights abuses, and economic strain, particularly at point of initial departure. Additionally, it explores potential solutions and interventions to address this complex issue, including improved border control measures, regional cooperation, and socioeconomic development initiatives aimed at reducing the push factors that drive individuals to migrate in irregular ways.

Adebusuyi Isaac Adeniran holds a PhD in Social Sciences (Migration Studies) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria (2012) and a Certificate in Research Methodology from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom (2014). He is the immediate past Head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) (2022-2025). He has been the National Research Consultant for the United Nations (UN) System on Migration and Anti-Corruption in Nigeria since 2019 and is the current Chief of Policy for the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP). He is also a Consultant for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Cognitive Testing for the Standard Tools for Analysis of Trafficking in Persons (STATIP) Project. Professor Adeniran is presently the Chair of the UN-Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)’s National Technical Committee (NTC) on Human Trafficking Research and Reporting in Nigeria (2025). He is also Visiting Professor on International Migration at The Harriet Tubman Institute, York University, Canada (since 2011) and at the Center for African Studies (CAS), University of Porto, Portugal (since 2025). He has published more than 120 books, book chapters, journal articles and policy briefs. He is a Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Cambridge Scholars Publishing, United Kingdom (since 2020) and the Co-Editor of African Review of Migration and Environment (ARME) (since 2018). He has attended and/or organized more than 100 academic and policy fora (conferences, workshops, seminars and symposia) in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America within past 2 decades. He was the Convenor of the 1st African International Conference on Transnational Organized Crimes (AICTOC) at OAU in 2023. He has received more than 70 academic recognition (awards, grants, fellowships and scholarships) across the world within the past 2 decades. He has had his doctoral research fellowship at York University, Canada from 2011-2012 under the auspices of the Center for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Canada and his postdoctoral research fellowship at the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI), Sweden in 2015 under the auspices of the Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish governments. He specializes in research design, field investigation and data management.

Nuraini Abdulrahman Yusuf holds a PhD in Industrial Sociology from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nigeria, and is currently a lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Social Work at Redeemer’s University, Nigeria. He previously served as an Associate Lecturer at OAU (2024–2025), teaching courses in Communication and Media Studies, sociology, industrialization, social change, communication, and criminology. A skilled data analyst and report writer, Mr Yusuf has authored and co-authored three international peer-reviewed publications, with several others under review. His scholarly contributions have earned him notable recognitions, including the DAAD Award (2022) and the Obafemi Awolowo University Research Excellence Award (2023).