The Naira’s continuous nosedive against the Dollars and the ravaging economy plus increased insecurity have led to an overwhelming surge in the blind zeal amongst Nigerians to leave the country for the United States, UK, other European nations, Asian countries and more. The disease of wanting to ‘japa’ has eaten so deep into the mentality of people so much so that, many who are well grounded financially in Nigeria even sold all their properties with the aim of relocating abroad, only to do jobs that even the citizens over there won’t try to do
By Rebecca Adeniran
Quite recently, it was everywhere on the news that there is an increase in fake visa issuing firms and individuals. These individuals and firms help those who are desperate to relocate abroad get their UK, US and Canadian visas only for those issued visa to realise it was fake on getting to the airport of the country they had intent of relocating to.
One particular story that seemed mind-blowing and unbelievable was one that came from one of the duped individuals who was stranded at a UK airport. She stated that she spent £11, 000 to get her visa to the UK for an adult caregiver job, only to get to the UK airport and discovered that it was fake. £11,000 which is over 11 million Naira just to become an adult caregiver abroad? This would seem unbelievable, even to a British person if they come across that news, but it is unfortunately true.
Of course, travelling abroad for studies or work and even permanently relocating to a foreign country isn’t a new phenomenon in Nigeria. It started way back in colonial times, when the British send bright and aspiring students on scholarships to further their education in the UK. Wealthy farmers and traders at that time also sent their sons to the UK, very few to the US, to match up their academics with the White man’s own. Many of these people however, only went for studies and returned. Becoming the early politicians and elites, that dominated the Nigerian sphere before and after independence.
By the 80s things had changed a little. More tertiary institutions had been built, there were more formal jobs compared to the pre-independent period because there were now more people who had Western education and corruption was also growing in weight, thereby affecting the economy and ultimately forcing the Naira to start bowing to major global currencies. With all these, the number of Nigerians going abroad to study remained consistent and they were joined by others who got job offers — real white-collar jobs — from abroad. The only difference this time was that many weren’t coming back. They remained permanent residents of the foreign countries they went to for study or work. Some stayed back because they saw how the economy was going and they sensed that things may still get worse but most of those who stayed back abroad did so, not because they wanted to, but because circumstances beyond their control made them; like falling in love with a White person or getting promoted to very strategic positions where they work abroad, getting used to life over there, and so on.
One should ensure that as one strives to relocate abroad, the rational is not riven by desperation and the japa disease. One should instead engage in weighing of one’s life here and what it might look like over there so that one doesn’t end up worse off abroad than in Nigeria
In these aforementioned years, the Naira was still okay and going abroad to work and save earnings wasn’t going to make one wealthy overnight in Naira. Unfortunately by the new millennium, the Naira’s continuous nosedive against the Dollars and the ravaging economy plus increased insecurity has led to an overwhelming surge in the blind zeal amongst Nigerians to leave the country for United States, UK, other European nations, Asian countries and more. The disease of wanting to ‘japa’ has eaten so deep into the mentality of people so much so that, many who are well grounded financially in Nigeria even sold all their properties with the aim of relocating abroad, only to do jobs that even the citizens over there won’t try to do. And some that are yet to leave, do not see reason to be patriotic and make any or further sacrifice to get Nigeria working better. They talked down on Nigeria in every conversation as if the foreign countries of their dreams were made great and appealing by aliens and not the citizens.
The case of the woman who spent the £11,000 for visa is same for many who have travelled and are attempting to travel. But what do you expect, when our leaders are the ones setting the precedence. As it is okay to want to change environment for one reason or the other, it is also not reasonable to sell your properties and companies just to go and do some menial jobs, even though the pay is high when changed to Naira. One should ensure that as one strives to relocate abroad, the rational is not riven by desperation and the japa disease. One should instead engage in weighing of one’s life here and what it might look like over there so that one doesn’t end up worse off abroad than in Nigeria.
Rebecca Adeniran is a Communicator & Corps member serving in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
