Gathering around the Point-Of-No-Return monument for pictures, some young adults enjoying a private bonding event at Badagry beach in Lagos were thrilled with the beautiful images their camera captured with the monument in the background.
However, Charles Ituni, an undergraduate from Babcock University, who was on a picnic with his Church’s youth group, chose not to use the monument as a backdrop for his picture. He expressed his dismay to some nearby listeners, explaining that the place was historically cursed as it symbolized the door through which their ancestors were sold into slavery many decades ago.
But his listeners quickly interjected with a different perspective. “What curse? If a slave ship were to return now, I would join it,” one of them said.
“I feel the same way,” another chimed in.
Amid their frustration, one of the listeners expressed the challenges they were facing. “We have no job opportunities, no fuel, no security, no money, and no one to marry – it’s like being a jobless guy. For many, the only option seems to be leaving the country, just like Tunde, Chris, Bidemi, and even Jonas, who used to stay in my room, now living in Canada.”
Sadly, those seemingly frustrated voices are reflecting the reality in today’s Nigeria.
“If a replay of the slave trade saga were to happen today, many Nigerians, both young and old, would willingly sail on slave merchant ships to escape the hardships and seemingly hopeless situations in the country. This phenomenon, known as the ‘japa’ syndrome, has resulted in a significant exodus of Nigerians abroad.
The situation has reached a critical point, with hardly anyone in Nigeria not knowing someone who has relocated overseas due to the ongoing ‘japa’ wave. According to a 2022 survey by the Africa Polling Institute, a staggering 69 percent of Nigerians would relocate with their families if given the opportunity, with nearly 80 percent planning to do so in 2023, compared to only 39 percent in 2019.
The trend has led to various individuals and families selling off properties, depleting life savings, and taking cheaper routes to leave the country. Nigerian embassies, particularly those of the UK, US, and Canada, are inundated with visa applications from Nigerians seeking to leave. This has also created business opportunities for passport offices, visa racketeering, travel agents, and overseas job agents.
Even senior officers, including immigration officials, have relocated their families abroad, reflecting the widespread desire for a better life beyond Nigeria. The push factors for this exodus include the high cost of living, rampant unemployment, soaring inflation rates, and a perception of inaction from the government to address the challenges.
Despite the challenges faced by Nigerians abroad, such as finding suitable jobs and obeying strict laws, many are willing to adapt to their new circumstances for the promise of a better life and opportunities for their families back home. However, the increasing number of Nigerian immigrants in certain countries, like Canada, raises concerns among host nations, potentially leading to measures to curtail the exodus.”
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