‘E be like say we go all Japa’ — An analysis of the Mass Migration of Nigerians and its impact
It is no longer news that Nigerians are rapidly leaving the country, as it would seem like every other day, there is another Nigerian mysteriously arriving at a foreign country, unbeknownst to their close friends and sometimes, family. The ‘Japa syndrome’ has sparked a continuous conversation as to its impact in the coming years, and in light of the new administration.
The mass migration of Nigerians to foreign countries is however, not a recent phenomenon, although there isn’t definite data that presents a clear picture of the number of Nigerians who migrate yearly, given that a lot of Nigerians, migrate illegally. The increase in the international passports processed, which is claimed to have risen by 38% between 2020 and 2021, would suggest that more Nigerians intend to, and are migrating from the country. This is further supported by the 2021 Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey that claims that 7 out of every 10 Nigerians would leave the country, if given the opportunity. The data does tell us that migration or intent to migrate has risen but what i believe is more important to study and dissect is the ‘why’, especially because a lot of these migrants are skilled professionals, who should ordinarily be contributing towards a better nation. This reality is believed to be as a result of multiple factors, inclusive of the increased insecurity in the last decade; the growing hunger and economic hardship; poor medical care, as well as the high unemployment rate in the country, to name a few. However with more young and skilled professionals leaving the country, these factors are likely to become worse.
Like other countries, Nigeria isn’t exempt from some type of criminality and civil unrest but in the wake of Militants, so called Boko Haram terrorists and other non-state armed groups committing kidnappings and murder, alongside the alleged unlawful kidnapping and abuse by armed state actors, the state of insecurity throughout the nation has placed Nigeria amongst some of the most unsafe countries to live in globally. In a functional administration, the executive arm of government are trusted to ensure that the fundamental right to life and property is protected but with the many stories and factors that led to the #EndSars Movement, it would seem evident that the Police aren’t the friends they promised to be, and the military could care less about ‘bloody’ civilians. According to the Centre for Democracy and Development, over 60,000 Nigerians have been killed and three million persons have been displaced as a result of this widespread insecurity. This has also affected the food production and distribution channels, leading to even more food insecurity in the Nation. This threat to life and living is said to be a fundamental factor in the consideration to migrate.
Another factor that is claimed to be an upside to living abroad is the access to quality medical care. Based on the global standard for quality medical care, the present healthcare reality in Nigeria is subpar and indeed, a good number of preventable deaths in Nigeria are as a result of this. Just two months back, Nigerians lost a promising Development professional due to the ignorance and negligence of the health facility she was rushed to after an incidence with ‘One-chance’ taxi cabs. Sadly, the deplorable health care system, doesn’t protect its own, as doctors and nurses are overworked, underpaid and in some instances, abused, increasing the willingness to migrate to a country that values their service. These health personnel who would have been instrumental to bridging the medical care gap, constitute the majority of young Nigerians leaving the country, thereby creating a scarcity of skilled health workers in the coming years and an increased probability rate of preventable deaths.
A major reason for relocation is the access to better job opportunities. The 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Survey, conducted by the National Bureau of statistics has claimed that about 63% of Nigerians are multidimensionally poor. This is not unrelated to the high unemployment rate which has risen to 33.3% in the past year, corruption, and the dwindling standard of the educational system. With skilled professionals like lecturers, programmers, scientists, lawyers, and entrepreneurs — who would ordinarily contribute to growing the economy — leaving the country, access to quality education would deplete, innovations that could provide better job opportunities and services for Nigerians would be even more limited, affecting the national economy and poverty rate.
In 2022, Nigeria suffered the worst flooding in the last decade, with vast areas of farmland, infrastructure and homes partly or wholly destroyed. This was as a result of the changing climate and even more so, the negligence of the Nigerian government to fulfil its commitment to build the Dasin Hausa dam as a shock absorber dam to the one i.n Cameroon since 1982. This Negligence alongside the inability of the government at the time to create emergency solutions to address the floods, after being warned by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency is just one example of the kind of administrative incompetence that continually costs Nigerians, their livelihood, properties and lives, almost necessitating migration.
These factors remain and are likely to compound, unless deliberate work is done to ameliorate the living conditions of the average Nigerian.
There is a need for the government to apply a youth-led multi-stakeholder strategic security approach which utilizes technology and unifies the security structures already in place to immediately address threats. The operatives belonging to different security structures should be effectively trained to provide rapid response, thereby curbing the possibility of attacks and mitigating the impact. This would also help in reducing food insecurity, and increase distribution of food. A strategic and effective approach would play a huge role in changing the perception of the security structures and leadership. With security, businesses would flourish and Nigerians in diaspora would feel safe enough to return.
In tune with rapid response, access to effective emergency medical care is crucial; ambulance and fire fighting structures should be optimized to immediately address mishaps and mitigate the impact. A performance based compensation program should be put in place to encourage state-owned health rapid response bodies improve their productivity and efficiency. Health care workers should be paid better wages as these would go a long way in promoting a sense of job security and trust in the Nigerian healthcare system.
To encourage more Nigerians to not Japa, monetary and fiscal policies that enable subsidized cost of production and taxation should be put in place or implemented to promote Small and Medium Scale enterprises, increasing the pool of employment opportunities and investments. The government can utilize the money obtained as a result of foreign remittance to build better infrastructures that would employ skilled Nigerians and improve the national economy. With more jobs to cover the high unemployment, the lower the rate of migration. Restrictive business policies should be overturned.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission should partner with embassies and the Nigerian Immigration Service to collate a robust database of Nigerians in diaspora as well as the causative factors that encourages permanent migration to serve as a tool in addressing the brain drain facing the country.
Addressing the ‘Japa Syndrome’, would require a conscious look into all the factors that drive it as well as their intersection. Warsan Shire said ‘No one leaves home, unless home chased you to the shore, unless home told you to quicken your legs …your survival is more important’. People leave because they want better for themselves and their families and unless these factors discussed are effectively addressed and handled, there would barely be any reduction of this ‘Japa Syndrome’.
