(A Nigerian NewsLeader Editorial, Wednesday, October 21, 2026)
Like the biblical Israelites, the current rate of exodus out the country by both the young, the middle-aged and the even elderly Nigerians, and especially the skilled professionals, is becoming very alarming. This development demands urgent government action.
From the foregoing, Nigeria is gradually losing one of its most valuable national assets, which is her people. From doctors, nurses, engineers and university lecturers to information technology specialists, artisans, students and unemployed graduates, thousands of Nigerians are daily seeking opportunities beyond the country's borders. The situation is now like a rat-race to emigrate to where they, rightly or wrongly, believe to be the world headquarters of "good life", the foreign lands.
For many Nigerians, leaving the country is no longer simply a personal ambition, it has become an escape route from the prevailing economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, bastardization of the rule of law and declining confidence in the nation's future. The situation is adjudged to have grown worse in recent years.
From the budgeoning criminal style of running the government and the civil service system; the business, religious, educational, judiciary, law enforcement and social systems, etc, everything have all practically collapsed in Nigeria, including the value system. Many frustrated Nigerians are already wondering whether this democracy is not a contentious concept for Nigerians and for the Africans.
'Japa' is a popular native Yoruba expression used to describe the current craze of emigration out of Nigeria by frustrated and highly disillutioned citizens. It simply means to flee or escape. This phenomenon has become a defining feature of contemporary Nigerian society. Families and individuals save for years or outrightly sell off their prized properties and inheritance assets to finance their children's relocation to other countries or their travel by the individual. Professionals, even homeland successful ones for that matter, abandon promising careers and 'japa'. Young graduates who once dreamed of building successful lives at home increasingly regard foreign countries as their best prospects for survival and advancement.
The disturbing question now is not why Nigerians want to leave, but why a country of enormous human and natural resources has failed to inspire sufficient confidence among its citizens to stay. From the era of 'Brain Drain' to the present fad of 'Japa' culture,
Nigerian emigration is not new.
Before independence in 1960, many Nigerians travelled abroad for education and professional training, particularly to Britain and the United States, and subsequently returned to contribute to national development. Bhe situation has significantly changed following the collapse of the oil boom in the early 1980s. Economic recession, structural adjustment policies of the General Ibrahim Babangida military government, consistent currency depreciation regime, deteriorating public services, unemployment and declining professional wages encouraged increasing numbers of Nigerians to seek employment overseas.
By the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, the country was experiencing a substantial exodus of skilled professionals. Doctors, academics, engineers, scientists and other specialists left institutions struggling with inadequate funding, poor remuneration and deteriorating working conditions. This trend continued into the new millennium, but its character has changed. What was once predominantly discussed as 'brain drain' among highly trained professionals has evolved into a broader migration movement involving young graduates, students, families, entrepreneurs and people seeking opportunities abroad in occupations that do not necessarily require university degrees.
For appropriate distinction, the 'brain drain' syndrome specifically describes the loss of specialised human capital, while the 'japa' syndrome captures a wider social determination to relocate, sometimes permanently, because opportunities at home appear inadequate.
The Nigerian government itself acknowledges the historical roots of the problem. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission estimates that between five million and 15 million Nigerians live abroad. This broad estimate should not be confused with a precise, current count of emigrants.
The numbers, however, tell a disturbing story.
A 2024 survey by Afrobarometer provides a revealing picture of the strength of the desire to leave Nigeria. The survey, conducted among 1,600 Nigerian adults between June 19 and July 17, 2024, found that 56 per cent of respondents had considered emigrating, compared with 36 per cent in 2017. The proportion who had given the idea serious consideration rose from 11 per cent to 33 per cent. The desire was particularly pronounced among young people aged 18–35, at 60 per cent; respondents with post-secondary education, were at 71 per cent; and urban residents, were at 63 per cent. Among unemployed respondents actively seeking work, 66 per cent had considered leaving.
Asked about their motivations to leave the Nigerian shores, 42 per cent identified employment opportunities, while 39 per cent cited economic hardship or poverty. North America, at 38 per cent, and Europe, at 28 per cent, were the most popular destinations among prospective emigrants. These figures require careful interpretation. They measure intentions and considerations, not the number of people who have actually emigrated. Nevertheless, they reveal a serious crisis of confidence among precisely the population Nigeria needs to drive its future development.
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs data, as compiled in a 2024 international migrant-stock database, put the number of Nigerian emigrants at approximately 2.09 million. The United States accounted for about 565,000, the United Kingdom 324,000, Niger 200,000, Cameroon 188,000, Italy 113,000 and Canada 112,000. These figures represent estimated stocks of emigrants living abroad, not the number who departed in 2024 alone. They also reflect the limitations of international population records, which can vary in their treatment of nationality, country of birth and migrant status.
The United Kingdom has remained a particularly attractive destination for these emigrant or 'Japa' loving Nigerians. Its Office for National Statistics was reported in May 2025 as estimating that approximately 52,000 Nigerians migrated there in 2024. That figure concerns migration to one destination. That, of course, does not represent Nigeria's total annual emigration.
Taken together, these indicators show that migration is both an established demographic reality and a widespread aspiration.
The greatest concern is not simply that Nigerians are leaving the country in droves, but that many of those departing citizens possess skills the country has spent considerable time and public resources developing. In this circumstance, the professionals are the most expensive loss the country has so far recorded. Medical doctors, nurses, Journalists, pharmacists, university lecturers, researchers, engineers and other professionals or specialists are particularly important because their training is expensive and their services are essential to national development.
A 15-year retrospective study tracking doctors and dentists who graduated from the University of Benin in 2008 found that migration increased with time after qualification. Among the 274 professionals studied, 13.2 per cent had migrated within five years of qualification, rising to 27 per cent after ten years and 48.9 per cent after 15 years. By March 2024, only 51.1 per cent of that particular cohort remained in Nigeria. Among those who had migrated, 96.3 per cent were living outside Africa, with the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States being the leading destinations.
This was a study of one graduating cohort, not a nationally representative estimate of all Nigerian doctors. Nevertheless, it illustrates how the loss of trained professionals can accumulate over time.
When doctors leave, patients face longer queues, overstretched facilities and reduced access to specialised treatment. Same with university lecturers when they emigrate, universities lose experienced teachers, researchers and mentors. And when engineers and technology specialists relocate, the country also loses expertise needed to develop industries, infrastructure and locally competitive businesses. The implications are profound.
The departure of experienced professionals also places additional pressure on those who remain, potentially worsening working conditions and encouraging further departures. Nigeria therefore risks entering a vicious cycle of poor conditions which encourage skilled workers to leave the country. Their departure weakens institutions which become less attractive to the next generation.
The question, however, is why are Nigerians desperate to leave their country to other lands? Existing economic hardship remains central to the japa phenomenon. Also, high
costs of living, unemployment and underemployment, declining purchasing power, inadequate salaries and limited opportunities for career advancement have made it increasingly difficult for many young Nigerians to achieve financial independence.
The removal of petrol subsidies, especially the kind of bottom-pot erasure of the subsidy, coupled with the foreign exchange reforms and other economic adjustments introduced under President Bola Tinubu administration have also imposed substantial short-term pressures on households, even as the government argues that the reforms are necessary to stabilise the economy.
For a graduate who has spent years obtaining a degree but cannot find a suitable job, migration may appear more attractive than remaining unemployed. For a doctor whose professional skills command substantially better remuneration abroad, leaving may seem economically rational.
Insecurity adds another dimension, just as Kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, communal violence and fears about personal safety. All these factors have forced some Nigerians to consider relocation as a means of protecting themselves and their families.
The role of weak institutions, corruption, political uncertainty and perceptions of unequal access to opportunities further undermine confidence of Nigerians and consequently spur them to emigrate out of their home country on daily basis.
Social media has also transformed the psychology of migration. Images of Nigerians abroad displaying new homes, cars, foreign salaries and apparently comfortable lifestyles, often create somewhat illusory impression that success is easier to achieve overseas.
However, social media rarely captures the entire picture. Debts incurred to finance relocation, expensive accommodation, loneliness, demanding work schedules and years spent struggling to establish a stable life, are hidden realities in the japa story.
The economic consequences of japa are not entirely negative. The greener pastures have a hidden price. Nigerians abroad send money home, finance education and healthcare, support relatives, establish businesses and contribute skills and international connections to their communities. But that is the glamour of it on the exterior. The true picture is far from the glittering ornament.
The World Bank has consistently recognised remittances as an important source of external financing for developing economies, including Nigeria. Properly channelled, these inflows can support household consumption, investment and economic resilience.
Nevertheless, remittances cannot automatically replace the contribution that productive citizens would have made at home. Money sent to relatives cannot, by itself, replace an experienced surgeon in a public hospital or a lecturer in a university department or a specialist needed to maintain critical infrastructure.
Nigeria also loses potential taxpayers, entrepreneurs, innovators and consumers. Families are separated, children grow up without the daily presence of one or both parents, and elderly relatives may be left without adequate care. There is also a financial imbalance when Nigeria invests in educating professionals who subsequently generate taxes, innovations and economic value primarily for destination countries.
The receiving countries benefit from skills they did not always have to finance from the beginning, while Nigeria bears part of the cost of training and replacing those who leave.
Yet it would be wrong to describe every emigrant as a national loss. Diaspora Nigerians can transfer knowledge, invest in domestic enterprises, mentor younger professionals and return with valuable experience. The real policy failure is allowing emigration to become predominantly a one-way departure rather than creating a system through which migration also produces sustained benefits for Nigeria.
Most Nigerians who migrate lawfully use established channels, including employment visas, skilled-worker programmes, student visas, family reunification, permanent-residence schemes and professional recruitment arrangements. The process usually requires valid passports, appropriate visa applications, proof of admission or employment where applicable, evidence of financial capacity, and professional qualifications or registration when required.
Some people also pursue dual nationality or citizenship by descent where legally eligible.
However, the desire to leave has created opportunities for fraudulent travel agents, unscrupulous recruitment companies and human traffickers. Some prospective migrants are deceived with fake employment offers, forged documents or promises of guaranteed visas. Others undertake dangerous irregular journeys across the Sahara and through the North African transit routes, hoping to reach Europe. Such journeys can expose migrants to robbery, detention, extortion, trafficking, forced labour, sexual exploitation and death.
Government must therefore distinguish between lawful migration, which is a legitimate individual choice, and irregular migration involving deception, abuse or violations of immigration law. The realities of life abroad also is not something to be ignored. Newly arrived Nigerians may struggle with accommodation costs, language barriers, unfamiliar professional licensing systems, discrimination, loneliness and the absence of reliable support networks.
Some professionals must repeat examinations, obtain additional qualifications or accept jobs below their level of training. Others work long hours in healthcare support, care homes, warehouses, transport, hospitality and other demanding sectors while trying to establish themselves. Recent accounts of Nigerians abroad have highlighted the emotional costs of separation and the gap between the promise of relocation and the difficulties that follow arrival. These difficulties do not mean that emigration is inherently undesirable. Many migrants build successful lives and enjoy greater security and opportunity out there.
The point is that migration is not an automatic passport to prosperity, and prospective emigrants deserve accurate information rather than exaggerated promises.
In all these scenario, Nigeria must take deliberate steps to protect her citizens.
The federal and state governments should abandon the illusion that migration can be discouraged through patriotic appeals alone. Citizens will not remain simply because political leaders tell them to love their country. They need compelling reasons to do so. To stem this tide, however, government must prioritise job creation through productive investment in agriculture, manufacturing, technology, construction and small businesses. Economic growth be made to translate into employment, better wages and improved living standards.
Also, public institutions must be made functional. Reliable electricity, affordable healthcare, quality education, efficient transport and access to finance are essential foundations for a country in which people can build meaningful lives. The government must also improve the welfare of professionals. Competitive remuneration, functional hospitals, adequately equipped laboratories, research funding, merit-based promotion and opportunities for career advancement are necessary to retain skilled workers in the country
Another key to resolving this quagmire, is that security in the country must improve. Citizens cannot be expected to invest their futures in communities where their lives, homes and businesses remain vulnerable to violence and kidnapping. Government should establish a comprehensive national migration database that tracks departures, returns, professional qualifications, destination countries and migration intentions while respecting privacy and data-protection laws. Nigeria currently lacks a sufficiently comprehensive, regularly updated picture of all migration flows to support precise policy planning.
The government should develop structured diaspora engagement programmes. These should encourage Nigerians abroad to invest in domestic enterprises, support research institutions, mentor young professionals and participate in temporary or permanent return schemes. Added to this is the need for a bilateral agreements with destination countries. This can promote ethical recruitment, protect Nigerian workers and support professional training at home.
Where foreign employers recruit Nigerian health workers, arrangements should encourage investment in training and the strengthening of domestic health systems without unlawfully restricting individual freedom of movement. And government should restore public confidence through transparency, accountability and credible democratic institutions. Citizens are more likely to invest in their country's future when they believe public resources are managed responsibly and that opportunities are not reserved for political connections.
THE NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER'S POSITION
Nigerian NewsLeader Newspaper believes that the greatest tragedy of this rampant culture of japa is not that Nigerians travel abroad, but that so many feel compelled to leave before they can realise their potential at home. Freedom of movement is a legitimate right, and no responsible government should seek to imprison talent within national borders. Nigeria should instead create conditions that make staying attractive, returning worthwhile and investing at home profitable.
We recommend an urgent national dialogue involving government, employers, professional associations, universities, labour unions, young people and diaspora organisations to develop a measurable national human-capital retention strategy.
The federal government should publish annual data on skilled migration, professional shortages, recruitment and retention, return migration and diaspora investment.
In the same vain, state governments should endeavour to complement these measures with credible employment programmes and improvements in education, healthcare, security and infrastructure. Most importantly, government must stop treating the exodus of as a public relations problem. It is an economic, social and institutional warning.
A country that loses its best-trained people may continue to possess oil, gas, fertile land and abundant natural resources, but these assets cannot develop themselves.
National prosperity depends on the knowledge, labour, creativity and confidence of its people. Nigeria, no doubt, cannot permanently prevent its citizens from seeking opportunities elsewhere. It can, however, prevent desperation from becoming the dominant reason they leave.
The ultimate test of governance is not how many Nigerians can afford to fly abroad, but how many can build dignified, productive and secure lives in their own country. Nigeria must make staying back home a viable choice again. Her future depends on it. NNL.
