Insecurity, others fuelling Nigerians’ migration – NiDCOM boss

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Thursday, highlighted economic instability, security concerns, and inadequate living standards as the primary drivers behind the increasing migration of Nigerians abroad.

Dabiri-Erewa stated this at a press conference ahead of the National Diaspora Day Celebrations 2024 on July 25, in Abuja.

She noted that the theme for this year’s National Diaspora Day, “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development,” reflected growing concerns over the demographic most affected by this migration—Nigeria’s youth.

“Factors such as economic instability, security concerns, and inadequate standard of living are ranked high among reasons for the exodus of Nigerians abroad.

“The consequence of this phenomenon is the decline of strong human resources because most of the Nigerians relocating are the youths. This in turn, makes a downward turn on labour and productivity in the country,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

Despite these challenges, Dabiri-Erewa called for a change in perspective, urging Nigerians to see the positive side of the situation.

“We have to turn our lemons into lemonade. Today, we change the story by celebrating those vibrant Nigerians who are making positive impacts in the Diaspora and making the country very proud.

“Also, those who, while abroad, are contributing positively to national development,” NiDCOM Boss noted.

Addressing the issues faced by Nigerian students at Teesside University in the United Kingdom, Dabiri-Erewa provided an update on the situation.

“The university has come up with a more compassionate payment method. The students are going to pay their fees. It is not charity, but they have devised ways that can be a bit more convenient.

“For those who were almost done with payment and were told to leave, they agreed that they would pay their fees but would not receive their certificate until they completed their payment,” she explained.

The NiDCOM boss also mentioned that Teesside University was not the only institution affected; many other universities have Nigerian students facing similar issues.

“We are working closely with the student organisations in the UK and the Nigerian Mission to address these challenges,” she added.

The term ‘japa’, originating from the Yoruba words ‘ja’ and ‘pa’ meaning “to break free,” has become Nigerian slang for relocating overseas in search of better opportunities.

Despite the challenges emigrants face—such as racism, bureaucracy, corruption, and loneliness—the appeal of ‘japa’ remains strong.

This migration trend is evident across various sectors in Nigeria, including health, information technology, banking, and education.

The 2024 World Migration Report showed that up to 402,186 Nigerians moved to the United States and 205,773 to the United Kingdom.

Additionally, over 169,600 Nigerians relocated to Cameroon, 154,739 to Niger, and 103,462 others to Italy.