By Kemi Olatunde

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Japa” is a Nigerian parlance that was coined to describe the desperation to seek greener pastures outside Nigeria. It reached a crescendo in this outgoing year so much that international figures are curious about the concept of ‘japa’.

Recently a video trended about a French ambassador seeking to know what Japa means trended on the social media. The young man’s answer to his questions left their audience in stitches as he was very economical with the truth.

The crave to leave Nigeria has been in the air for a while but the year 2022 has held everyone spellbound as it has recorded a huge figure of Nigerians who relocated to the white man’s land.

Most of them left the country mostly for greener pastures and better chances while few left to secure the future of their children.

It is not a bad idea to desire to live in another location and experience a new way of living. However, findings made by The Hope revealed that many of them are not adequately informed about their country of interest or prepared for the changes they would encounter when they reach their destination.

 They fail to realize that they should be prepared to take the bitter with the sweet irrespective of their destination. An adage says that one doesn’t value what he/she has until it is lost.

That has been the case with some emigrants who had the belief that the streets of the white man is laced with foreign currencies and only waiting for them to come pick them up. For so many reasons, most of them burnt their bridges of reconnecting with their dear country. They leave well paying jobs and a settled lifestyle behind and embrace uncertainty. After being faced with the stark reality that it rains everywhere, they begin to have a rethink.

Tunji Isola is a young polytechnic graduate with his blood on fire with the dreams of traveling abroad. He was bent on travelling because tried as he could, he could not secure a well paying job. Although, he got some jobs that could sustain him but he usually resign after a short while.

At some, he was sacked for not meeting his target as a marketer.

He narrated “one day, I got fed up with the situation and I took my HND certificate to Nigeria Industrial Bank as collateral to obtain loan.

Things went according to plan and he travelled to Russia along with one of his friends. They got work with a house maintenance outfit. However, the work was too tedious for him, although his friend managed to rub along. They thought they would get work permit soon but things didn’t work according to their plan.

 He tried to fit in but unfortunately the condition in the country was not conducive for him and he began to plan to return to Nigeria. His friend however refused to follow him home.

He came last year to a disappointed mother and wife who were expecting that he would hit it big abroad and come back to lift the family out of poverty.

According to Feyi Adeyemi who just relocated to UK, “I came here for my masters but as it is now, things are not really as I thought it would be. I left a very big shop where I was selling varieties of goods in Lagos for greener pastures but here I am faced with the reality that money isn’t picked on the streets here or plugged on trees.

“I am still trying to find my feet anyway because I came here not quite long. With my experience so far, Nigeria isn’t that bad even though Nigerians are faced with insecurity, I must say that insecurity is everywhere just that here, the security personnel are quick to respond to calls from citizens.

“I left three children all less than the age of seven to hustle here alongside my academics but it has not been easy. To get a job is not on a platter of gold. I have exhausted the money I brought in. My husband in Nigeria sent money to me for my upkeep. My house rent alone is close to N500,000 on monthly basis. We pay tax for virtually everything.

“There was a time I wanted to find a job like picking waste along the road so as to get paid, I was told to bring a certificate in cleaning just to pick papers on the street. Oh, I missed my country. Education here isn’t cheap. I will be through with my programme next year after which I must have paid over N10million.

“Haven said all these anyway, it feels good to be on the white man’s land at least to be free from the so many challenges of our dear country.”

Also, Mrs Adewole Hannah, another person sharing her experience said she resided in Ibadan before she left the country in September to further her education abroad.

According to her, “We lived in a four bedroom duplex in Ibadan before we relocated to UK with my family; my husband, two children and I.

She explained that they made the decision to come travel abroad because they wanted a better future for their children; a five year old girl and a year old boy saying that they no longer have trust in Nigeria.

“I go to school while my husband cares for the boy until I return from school after which he goes to work. I too have few hours to work in a week which I mostly go to on weekends to assist my husband.

“The challenge here is that this place is now like an advanced Nigeria as Nigerians flood the streets here. In my school, most times when you pass through some classes, you hear Nigerians expressing themselves in their mother tongue especially Yoruba.

“I care for an old woman here and most of the time, I struggle to understand what she says as I am not used to their way of speaking fast but I believe that it is a matter of time.”

Yetunde Ayeni who left the country some two years ago said that there are so many things to miss about Nigeria noting that not all that glitters is gold.

According to her; “I got married in the year 2020 in Ondo State before I left the country with my husband. When we got here (London), we were so happy that we had left the shores of Nigeria but to be candid, I miss Nigeria especially my extended family. My husband has been working hard to sustain us especially with the arrival of our son this year.

“When I put to bed through Caesarean Section, we couldn’t afford to bring either my mother or mother in law down here to care for both the baby and I due to the fact that we pay for everything here. I can imagine if I was in Nigeria when I put to bed, everyone from our families would have flooded our house to rejoice with us and also render assistance with house chores but the reverse is the case here. If you need help here, you pay for the service. Although it feels good to mingle with white men, but there are some privileges enjoyed back home.”

Expressing a contrary opinion, a Nigerian nurse in London who doesn’t want her name in print explained that it is easier to make it in foreign countries than in Nigeria due to the negligence of leaders in many areas.

According to her, the leaders in Nigeria tend to shy away from addressing the plights of citizens which according to her brought about the “Japa” syndrome among them especially the youths.

She noted that the lazy Nigerians will always be stagnant while the hardworking ones make it.

“The happiest day of my life was the day I stepped my foot in the United Kingdom. The process of relocating was rigorous but I scaled through and I made up my mind to make it here. I am surprised that some are making complaints already even though one needs to work hard to sustain his/herself here. Before I got a good job as a nurse, I engaged in volunteer jobs which took care of my needs. I believe that with God on one’s side and hardwork, the sky is your limit.

“I could remember how I worked back then in Nigeria, why won’t I work like that here or even more when I know that I will be handsomely paid? The problem with Nigeria is that the lazy ones eat well while those who labour have few crumbs to struggle for. If the Nigerian government can ensure that it rewards hardwork with good pay, and also provide employment, then people will stay back to improve the country.”

In a telephone conversation, a Nigerian in the United Kingdom, Wilson Adewole stated that chances of making it in overseas countries are brighter than in Nigeria.

“Don’t be deceived, overseas countries are far better than Nigeria, I think there is a campaign going on underground sponsored by the government to discourage people from leaving the country, because I’ve seen several videos on social media discouraging people not to travel out.

“Here in the UK, as long as you can work, you will get paid, I have never regretted for once since I left Nigeria, God directed my footsteps here and I’m enjoying it. Although it is not a bed of roses too but as long as you are not lazy, you will get along. The only thing i miss about Nigeria is the fact that if you are rich, the best place to spend your money and have rest of mind without thinking of too much tax is still Nigeria,” he noted.

Joseph Akinpelu has this to say about his experience abroad. “Many of the things I heard about this country before I came here turned out not to be true. When I arrived, the people I met were very loving and supportive. While pastors have to preach love to people back at home, here love is practised as a lifestyle. Also, in this place, the society has a core value which guides the life of everyone.”