The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Japa syndrome

  • On the Japa syndrome

    On the Japa syndrome

    Sir: The term “Japa,” is associated with Nigerians migrating to foreign countries in search of better opportunities, and has seen a significant increase in recent years. This trend, driven by the desire for economic empowerment and a safer living environment, has recently faced a slowdown. The depreciation of the naira has made emigration more expensive, and stricter immigration rules in popular destination countries have contributed to this deceleration.

    The initial wave of Nigerian emigrants primarily sought economic empowerment and improved living standards for themselves and their families. However, in recent times, increasing insecurity within Nigeria has become a significant reason for people to leave. The growing levels of violence and instability have driven individuals to seek refuge in countries where the safety of lives and property is more guaranteed.

    The decision to migrate is complex and comes with potential consequences. On one hand, successful emigration can lead to significant financial gains, better job opportunities, and superior educational prospects for children. On the other hand, it can result in cultural dislocation and initial difficulties in adapting to a new environment, among other challenges. Given these potential outcomes, it is essential to carefully weigh all variables before deciding to leave Nigeria. Factors such as age, educational background, skill set, family size, necessary documentation, financial requirements, and available migration routes must be thoroughly evaluated. The uncertainties inherent in the emigration process might make it less appealing for risk-averse people

    Read Also: UK’s new trade scheme boosts Nigeria’s export potential

    With meticulous planning and execution, Japa can lead to the desired outcomes. The initial phase in a new country often presents challenges, requiring resilience, hard work, and appropriate skills to navigate successfully. Many find that their efforts eventually result in an enhanced quality of life and better opportunities for their children. Nonetheless, like any significant life venture, the outcomes of Japa can vary, with some individuals achieving success while others do not.

    The increasing trend of emigration has significant implications for Nigeria, particularly in terms of brain drain. Skilled professionals such as doctors, project managers, engineers, and educators leaving the country puts pressure on critical sectors. For example, the healthcare system often faces shortages of qualified doctors due to this trend, which can greatly impact the nation’s ability to provide adequate medical care. This loss of talent presents a major challenge to Nigeria’s development and its ability to offer quality services to its citizens.

    In response to these challenges, the role of the Nigerian government is crucial. To address the reasons driving citizens to emigrate, the government must prioritize improving welfare and security within the country. This involves creating more job opportunities, ensuring the safety of lives and properties, and enhancing the education and healthcare systems, among other measures. Additionally, improving the overall quality of life for Nigerians is essential. By tackling these fundamental issues, the government can reduce the incentives for emigration, encouraging citizens to invest their talents and efforts within Nigeria rather than seeking opportunities abroad.

    The phenomenon of Japa is multifaceted, extending beyond the pursuit of economic empowerment to encompass a wide range of motivations, including the quest for safety and better living conditions. Although it seemingly offers the promise of a brighter future, it also brings substantial risks and challenges. Stressing the importance of careful planning and well-informed decision-making is essential for individuals contemplating this course of action. By understanding and addressing the underlying motivations behind Japa, the government can work towards fostering a more stable and prosperous Nigeria, ultimately reducing the drive for mass emigration.

    •Kenechukwu Aguolu,<kenerek1@gmail.com>

  • Japa syndrome and drug trafficking

    Japa syndrome and drug trafficking

    By Adekunbi Lawal Jabi

    SIR: News of arrests and seizures published by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on January 28 included a Brazil returnee who was caught at the Lagos International Airport with 60 wraps of cocaine he ingested from Sao Paulo.

    Nigerians who have been following the NDLEA weekly digest for the past three years since the agency rebooted would notice that major arrests of cocaine trafficking into the country always include a man or woman returning from Brazil. Nearly all of the suspects always claimed they were forced to undertake the criminal risk of serving as drug mules because of an urgent need for money.

    Eight countries including Brazil, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Russia demand that Nigerians coming into their territories tender visa clearance certificates from NDLEA because some of them are designated as “source countries” for illicit drugs.

    Therefore, anyone coming into Nigeria from such countries is also a potential candidate for scrutiny at the airport. Some traffickers who tried to be smart would first fly to another country or fly an airline that will stop-over in a neutral country in order not to raise a red flag when they touchdown in Nigeria.

    Well, the sad news for them is that it is obvious the NDLEA is ahead of that game, hence the consistency in arresting drug mules coming into Nigeria, especially from Brazil.

    Usually, it always turns out that the families and relations of most of the arrested suspects had no idea about what their kin were up to; and some of them were not aware of the possible implications of travelling to certain source countries where they had no prior roots, either of education or business.

    The truth is today, many have travelled to such countries and failed to return home, while their families lived in the false hope that they were probably trying hard to make ends meet and expected them to be back at a later date. The cold truth is many Nigerians are languishing in prisons of foreign countries for drug trafficking offences.

    Read Also: PDP tasks FG on current hardship in Nigeria

    In 2018, at least 600 Nigerians were in Chinese prisons some of whom were incarcerated for drug trafficking. In 2018-2019, Nigerians were the most frequently arrested foreign nationals for drug trafficking in Brazil, and their number was in the thousands. In 2023, 270 Nigerians were detained in Ethiopian prisons for drug trafficking. We have a lot of Nigerians in India, Thailand, Malaysia, and UAE, all incarcerated for drug trafficking.

    This is a wake-up call for parents especially to be aware of this global menace now that the youths are desperate to “japa” out of the country by any means possible.

    Certain countries should raise red flags and also questions from families and friends to those who want to migrate to such countries.

    Migration has a pattern; if you are searching for greener pastures, then you must have some skills or qualifications that are sought-after in the country of interest; if the reason to emigrate is to search for the golden fleece, then the country must be such that is known for providing quality educational service; and for those seeking asylum, we know countries that are favourably disposed to that.

    Nigerians seeking to go abroad need to be wary of fake promises of a good job that could later become a trap that could turn them into drug couriers and ultimately lead to their arrest, prosecution and imprisonment, which would bring shame and reproach on their family and cumulatively dent Nigeria’s image.

    The government through NDLEA is doing the most; the society also could lend a hand to ensure that drug trafficking is stamped out of our country.

    • Adekunbi Lawal Jabi, Abuja.

  • How to reduce japa syndrome, by Ex-UI VC

    How to reduce japa syndrome, by Ex-UI VC

    Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Idowu Olayinka, has proposed tips on how to reduce the number of Nigerians migrating abroad.

    According to him, the Federal Government should  improve the security space, ensure quality of life for all, food security, diversification of the  economy, improve the ease of doing business, ensure an enabling environment for employment, among others.

     Prof. Olayinka spoke at the 65th anniversary of the UI Alumni Association (Lagos State Branch). He  spoke on ‘Nigerian Japa syndrome: Quo Vadis?’.

    The don urged policymakers at all levels to implement measures that would make life more bearable for Nigerians.

     He said: “The effect of Japa on brain drain and loss of skilled manpower cannot be over-emphasised as it has the tendency to drive an active segment of the population out of the country, and this is reflected in the Exodus of highly trained professionals like doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, bankers, and many others.

     “The last time Nigeria recorded a positive net migration rate with more people entering the country than leaving was from 1974 to 1980. This period coincided with the oil boom years when the country derived humongous resources from petroleum.”

     Prof. Olayinka noted that given the country’s current socio-economic realities, only little can be done to prevent the emigration of many skilled Nigerians to other countries.

     He added: “The onus is on the policymakers to implement measures that would make life more bearable for the majority of the population who would remain in the country; to do otherwise would be a recipe for a massive social crisis.

     “There’s a need to diversiy the economy through the development of critical solid minerals, ensuring food security, tackling security issues, repositioning the underperforming public higher education sector, reducing the emigration of health professionals and stemming health tourism, tackling corruption and promoting good governance to minimise the urge for Nigerians to flee.”

      For the Group Chairman/CEO, International Energy Services Ltd, Prof Diran Fawibe japa should not be seen as a negative thing.

    Read Also: Nigeria losing best brains to ‘Japa syndrome’ — AfDB president

      “Although japa might be affecting different sectors, it should not be seen as a negative thing because it is not only Nigerians that japa. It means that people go and some will come back. In USA, Americans do japa, British, China and Indians do japa.

     “Although, in our own case, the number of people that left the country within a short period was totally unusual but we have to look at the fundamental issues that made this issue to be so sudden and unusual in Nigeria.

     Technocrat, Kayode Otitoju, who was Chairman of  the planning committee, said the theme was selected because it was a topical issue in Nigeria.

     “It affects almost every section in Nigeria where an employee is thinking of how to go abroad. Students also want to go abroad to studey. But the Latin word ‘Quo Vadis’ which means ‘Going Forward?’, in this context, shows it is a fundamental human right to move from point A to B, and only little can be done to prevent the emigration of many skilled Nigerians to other countries.”

  • Aremu says exodus of youths to Europe, Americas voluntary slavery

    Aremu says exodus of youths to Europe, Americas voluntary slavery

    Ex-national vice president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Issa Aremu has likened mass exodus (Japa syndrome) of Nigerian youth abroad for greener pasture as ‘voluntary slavery.’

    Comrade Aremu, who is the Director General of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) likened the syndrome to the slave trader era where “our forefathers were used for hard labour to develop Europe and the Americas.

    Former labour activist said this in Ilorin, Kwara state at this year Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) organised by Lifefount Foundation and its partners.

    Comrade Aremu said that “Japa is voluntary slavery. It is uncalled for. I thank the foundation and its partners for changing the narrative of Africa from voluntary slavery to voluntary prosperity.

    “I want to say that MINILS is available for future partnership with the foundation.”

    No fewer than 200 youths, women and persons with living with disability (PLWD).

    The consortium of organisations concerned with youth and women development trained them on digital entrepreneurship skills graduated at the event.

    They were also trained on data development, analytic and digital education.

    The training is aimed at encouraging self-employment, create job opportunities and reduce poverty.

    Read Also: Japa syndrome: Unleashing Nigeria’s hidden assets abroad

    Themed, “Entrepreneur Thrives Here”, the programme also witnessed exhibition of various entrepreneurial skills, business conference and graduation ceremony of the beneficiaries.

    Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Co-Founder of the Foundation, Dr (Mrs) Yemisi Adeyeye, said the beneficiaries of the programme were trained on digital technology and entrepreneurship skills; both online and physical.

    Previous activities of the foundation included provision of free breast mamograohy, free breast cancer test, scanning among over 1,000 women, provision of boreholes, etc.

    She said that the drive for the project came from the need to find out what can be done to make people’s lives better, “Especially, with the present economic challenges, we think there’s need to empower women with digital empowerment skills and make them have structured business to improve and grow their businesses.”

  • Japa syndrome: Unleashing Nigeria’s hidden assets abroad

    Japa syndrome: Unleashing Nigeria’s hidden assets abroad

    Sir: Migration, the movement of people from one place to another, typically involving a change in residence or location, is on the rise globally. Global migration, however, is a complex and multifaceted trend influenced by various factors including economic opportunities, family reunification, environmental factors, conflict, or the pursuit of a better quality of life. Studies show that it is a fundamental aspect of human history and continues to play a significant role in shaping societies and economies around the world. 

    The World Migration Report reveals that there were around 281 million international migrants in 2021—that’s a 27 per cent increase compared to figures from just over a decade earlier (2010) when there were 221 million migrants who’d crossed international borders. The rise in recent decades is largely driven by factors such as globalization, increased connectivity, and disparities in economic opportunities between countries. 

    Nigeria is not immune from this trend. In fact, in recent years, Nigeria has witnessed this profound and evolving phenomenon. It has even carved a tag for it “Japa Syndrome.” This term which is today slowly becoming part of the nation’s lexicon, refers to the growing trend of young Nigerian professionals, full of potential and ambition, choosing to pursue careers and opportunities abroad. While this outward migration might raise concerns about brain drain, a closer look indicates that the “Japa Syndrome” holds the potential for a myriad of long-term benefits for the country. 

    What Nigeria needs to do is explore these advantages and consider how to optimize this trend. 

    Read Also: Japa syndrome: Stakeholders seek action on rehabilitation, reformation, mental health

    Now the departure of young, talented professionals might initially seem like a loss for Nigeria, but it can be viewed through a different lens – as a brain gain for the nation. Many of these professionals, armed with world-class education and global experience, will eventually return with a wealth of knowledge, networks, and resources that can significantly contribute to the development of their home country.

    To optimize this trend and possibly harness its benefits, Nigeria needs to establish robust networks and incentives for its diaspora. Initiatives like the Nigerian Professionals Abroad (NPA) program can actively engage with the diaspora, tapping into their expertise and fostering a sense of belonging, even from afar. Investment opportunities in Nigeria should be made more accessible, and the government should streamline the process of doing business in the country. This way, returning professionals can more easily participate in the nation’s growth.

    In addition, it is important for those contemplating the journey abroad, to prepare appropriately and properly. Language skills, cultural awareness, and a strong educational foundation can be invaluable assets. Additionally, understanding the immigration process, job market, and cost of living in the chosen destination is crucial. Moreover, building a support system and networking with other Nigerians already abroad can make the transition smoother.

    The recent heart breaking story of a Nigerian lady, Sylvia Obianuju Chikwendu on TikTok, who wept profusely as she recounted the loneliness she has been enduring since her relocation to Canada is cause for concern and a lesson. 

    The truth is that the “Japa Syndrome” reflects a dynamic shift in Nigeria’s global position. As young professionals take their skills abroad, they are not just fulfilling personal aspirations but also sowing the seeds for the nation’s future growth. 

    It is clear that with careful planning, the right policies, and proactive measures to engage the diaspora, Nigeria can ensure that the “Japa Syndrome” leads to a brighter and more prosperous tomorrow. This trend is not just about leaving home; it’s about creating a bridge that connects Nigerians across the globe, ultimately returning with a wealth of knowledge and experience to elevate the nation to new heights.

    This is our hope and prayer. It now needs to become policy. 

    • Elvis Eromosele, elviseroms@gmail.com
  • How to curb Japa syndrome in health sector, by don

    How to curb Japa syndrome in health sector, by don

    President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria,Ijanikin, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Osibogun, has stressed the need for government to put mechanisms in place to ensure doctors are retained in the country.

    He noted that it was imperative to train and retain skilled manpower in the health sector, adding that financial and non financial incentives would curb the Japa syndrome.

    Osibogun said between 30,000 and 40,000 doctors had left the country in search of greener pastures.

    He spoke at a news briefing on Tuesday to announce the College’s 41st convocation. Osibogun noted that 413 new postgraduate fellows and 92 Doctors of Medicine would convocate today.

    Osibogun,  a Professor of Public Health at College of Medicine,LUTH said compelling doctors to work for five years before going abroad was a ‘misapplication of justice’, adding that it was not in compliance with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards.

    A bill aimed at curtailing the influx of Nigerian-trained medical and dental practitioners to foreign countries was passed at the House of Representatives in April.

    Read Also: First Lady, governors’ wives move to address ‘Japa syndrome’

    He said  the main challenge  in the college was not having enough people to train because as the doctors graduate,  they leave the country.

    “To address the problem we need to keep training more and retain more in the country through provision of financial and non-financial incentives by the governments.

    “Every medical doctors need to enjoy the work they are doing for best and successful productivity at various hospitals.

    “There is need for improvement of better work environment,providing more facilities at the hospitals especially the teaching and general hospitals.

    “We need to put in place mechanism that are skilled manpower so they can remain in the country because some of our sisters countries in West Africa are already putting use of manpower,” he said.

    He said the college had produced over 8,500 medical specialists for the country,adding that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) should  recognise its  role  as inter-university centre.