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Global Visions > Blog > JAPA Syndrome–A Mass Exodus of Nigerian in Search of a Better Life

JAPA Syndrome–A Mass Exodus of Nigerian in Search of a Better Life

By Osita Ifezue

Migration is as old as human history. Like a bee to honey, humans are wired to seek life in greener pastures. Nigeria’s economic austerity in the 1980s resulted in a mass exodus of Nigerians. The brain drain that followed got national attention. In response, a popular television and radio jingle was launched as a national campaign to discourage mass migration from the country. The theme song was by Veno Marioghae, a musician, and actor Enebeli Elebuwa known in the jingle as Andrew.

In the song, Veno is seen pleading with Andrew not to leave. “Nigeria go survive. Andrew don’t check out o.“ (In the local pidgin language it means Nigeria will survive, Andrew, don’t emigrate) Thirty-nine years later, Nigeria is still in survival mode. The question is when will we move from the survival mode to the path of sustainable development?

I sang this jingle growing up because it played repeatedly between 1984 and 1990, without understanding the underlying campaign was to stem mass emigration. Nigeria is facing a resurgence of economic and security challenges. The number of talented people leaving is mind boggling. Is there a justification for the mass exodus of people? Yes! For example, in 1984, 1 dollar = 0.76 Nigerian Naira, today 1 dollar = 1400 dollars. Low government revenue, failed government policies, food insecurity, insecurity, double-digit inflation rate, the decline in education, climate change, just a few problems. pushing people to emigrate as the last resort. These failures to provide the basic needs shifting us from a survival mode to crisis mode, a crisis that is not sustainable. A society carrying on this way begs the question of our long-term sustainability.

The country still faces a massive brain drain and economic crisis. It is estimated that 1 in every 3rd person wants to emigrate. According to IOM, emigration has doubled between 1990 and 2013 from 465,932 to 1,030,322. Official figures from the Nigerian Immigration Service’s Migration Information Data Analysis System (MIDAS), about 2, 115, 139 persons emigrated from Nigeria in 2022, while 1, 574, 357 left the country from January to September 31, 2023, making it a total of 3,679, 496 have left Nigeria in the last two years. This number does not include those who set out on the journey crossing the desert and the Mediterranean Sea. The mass emigration of Nigerians has earned the name – Japa.

When Nigerians reminisce on life in the 1980s they hail it as the best times in the country. What does this trend mean for Nigeria and the international community? Why should we pay closer attention to it? How can having a balanced view of migration be important for successful migration? How do we address the massive brain drain together?

Japaing(Emigrating)-the new syndrome

The Japa syndrome has caught on in Nigeria and across Africa. There is the general perception that life is better in the West. Japaing (Emigrating), as it is often referred to, is a new status symbol. The cost of emigrating legally is not a cheap venture. Those who cannot afford it legally resort to dangerous journeys that often result in the death of many people at sea or in the desert. Some African migrants have seen inhumane treatment in some parts of North Africa and many beg to return to their home countries.

The Japa syndrome and the resulting brain drain pose major challenges for Nigeria and the international community. Reversing the trend requires a collective national and international effort. In an interview at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Strive Masiyuma, Executive Chairman of Econet one of Africa’s largest telecommunications providers,highlighted some global problems that need addressing in Africa. Top on the list are climate change and job creation. The average age in Africa is 19 years and the population is estimated from about 1.2 billion to about 4 billion at the turn of the century. These young African population need jobs more than ever because the jobs will bring security and curb mass migration.

Tackling the japa syndrome and brain drain requires a multifaceted approach involving government initiatives, educational reforms, and a shift in societal mindset. Prof. PLO Lumumba emphasizes the role civic education could play in the active citizenry and the government’s acknowledgment of such participation by respect for the rule of law. Civic education is what will move us from tribalists to citizens. When people are active of participants in nation-building, they are more invested and feel a sense of ownership. We need to take more responsibility for the problem that exists. Not only does the nation need to protect the citizens but the citizens also need to own the role of active citizenship.

Building a nation involves everyone coming together and understanding that no one can do it for us. Dambisa Moyo put it well in her book Dead Aid. The schedule of any nation is its people understanding the essence of nation-building.

Addressing the brain drain requires acknowledging the importance of retaining talented individuals within the country. In the case of Andrew and others who left Nigeria, the government must recognize the impact of losing skilled minds and take steps to create an environment that encourages them to stay. This includes investing in education, providing opportunities for professional growth, job creation, security, and ensuring a supportive infrastructure for innovation, and structured entrepreneurial development.

We need to understand that Nigerians deserves better than we are given. We need to demand better accountability. Active citizenry is the responsibility of all. It’s a right and responsibility.

Unless we start to build internal capacity to find solutions to our problems, we will keep going in this the spiral of solutions that do not work.

When migrating, do it right!

The harsh reality of life in a country other than the country of birth sets in quickly. Aside from the economic benefits of migration many often overlook other factors such as belonging, well-being , cultural sensitivities, and career trade-offs, and identity.

The reality is migration to a new country for economic reasons is often replacing a problem for a different kind.

Western countries are facing cash problems and cutting funding for social programs, some aimed at integrating newcomers. That means cuts in the support to immigrants and integration programs. The soft landing that most immigrants receive in some countries is being cut down because of economic pressures that governments need to choose what initiatives demand priorities. Some are making the deportation of immigrants top on their political agenda. Hence immigrants might find life more challenging than it used to be.

Economic pressure is increasing racially-driven discrimination. A report by the European Union Agency for Human Rights on the experiences of individuals of African descent showed that Blacks in Europe faced increased racial discrimination since 2016 to as high as 77%. I have written about the everyday experience of a Black person in Europe. The experience of individual of African descent is not the bread and butter as sometimes projects.

Depending on the part of the world you live in, experiences might range from risk to life to not getting equal opportunity. The migration debate in most countries is hard and many governments are pushing back on immigration. Due to the current political and economic situation, far-right groups are becoming increasingly radical. Check out the riots in the UK, Ireland, and the wins of far-right parties in France. The political climate on immigration is seen in how tensions between the parties make curbing immigration the central point of their political agenda. The pressure is increasing. For example, Sweden which has been known for welcoming immigrants is shutting its doors and even recently offered immigrants in Sweden $34,000 to return to their home countries. Even moderate political parties are turning their rhetoric harshly against immigrants.

When looking to japa do it the right way!

Research the country to understand other factors beyond economic reason as these other factors will pop up before long and impact well-being.

The hectic lifestyle of living abroad makes it difficult to stop and process things that are happening real-time which impact well-being. In my experience, I will say that many individuals set out on the migration project without really counting the cost.

The average immigrant would work and study or work 2 jobs to keep up. The cost and benefits of Japaing go beyond the economic benefits. There are other issues of belonging and identity that tend to spring up with years spent abroad. Knowing as an immigrant that you are often neither liked nor welcome for no reason can be hard. Many people set out on that venture without knowing what the reality is until reality checks in. If you choose to go to Japa, do it right. Choose a legal migration pathway instead of shortcuts. Understand that the reality is often different in a new country. Prepare well in advance by doing your research. Check the official website and gather information on steps needed pre-arrival and post-arrival.

Africans living in the diaspora can contribute a lot to the development of the countries of residence and home countries. Whether one chooses to japa or not, doing it right will solve a lot of the crises we see associated with illegal migration.

Andrew’s response to Veno in the song was “No light no water. Men I’m checking out. As long as basic human needs are not met japaing will continue to happen which is unsustainable for the African economy and global security. The current situation is unsustainable. Focusing on job creation and security will help quench the tide of brain drain happening not just in Nigeria, but across Africa.

Strive Masiyiwa, who came to Europe as a student, returned to Africa after his studies in Europe to pursue his dreams of starting a business. Today, he’s built a multi-billion dollar telecommunications giant, Econet. The government could do more to harness the skills and experiences of the diaspora in nation-building.

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