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WHY MORE NIGERIANS ARE LEAVING THE COUNTRY, BY ANTHONY SPINKS
The rate at which Nigerian citizens are running away from the country has become alarming. This has given rise to the infamous phenomenon known as ‘Japa Syndrome’, a term derived from Yoruba language, meaning to escape, or flee in search of greener pastures abroad. Migration itself is not a crime under the law as long as it is done through legitimate means. The very idea of travelling abroad may indeed evoke a kind of romantic tickle. But the problem is that if everybody decides to run away, the country would surely come to ruin.
In 2023 alone, no fewer than 260,000 Nigerians approached the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) for assistance to leave the country. This number represents only those seeking to leave through regular, and legitimate means. Only God knows the number that leaves through illegal routes on a daily basis. For obvious reasons, the UK is the number one destination followed by the United States, Canada, Australia, among other countries. Professionals are leaving the country in droves. What is more alarming is that among those leaving are even nursery, primary, and secondary school teachers, signalling a new threat to the education sector that is already almost crippled. Nigerian demography comprise 70 per cent youthful population, and most of those running away are in that category. Olukayode Jayeola, a public analyst, puts it succinctly, “For many young Nigerians, the bloodshed that ended the 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality proved to be a decisive factor. Their desire to leave the country crystallised into action. Leaders had disregarded their criticisms and, for some youths, it seemed futile to continue struggling”. The recent EndBadGovernance protest would also have a similar effect if the concerns raised by the protesters are unattended to by the federal government.
The health sector is the worst hit. The mass exodus of doctors, nurses, and other health workers has left Nigeria with an acute manpower deficit in the sector. In the last couple of months, I have seen no fewer than ten families relocate to Canada. One or two of the families literally sold their houses and their plots of land, and left; just like that. Their reason was that the hardship in the country has become unbearable. In fact, one of the families had recently lost a new-born baby to malnutrition and lack of funds for medical care, only a few days after their breadwinner was kidnapped and murdered in cold blood. Their decision to flee may appear precipitous; but of course, when people are pushed to the wall by no fault of theirs, it would be difficult to predict what manner of reaction they could come up with.
As we write this, records from the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors revealed that no fewer than 1,417 of its members have left for the United Kingdom and the United States by the end of 2023. This of course is attributable to poor working conditions and both job and personal security. A few days ago, the Nigerian National Association of Resident Doctors issued a two-week ultimatum to the government for the release of its member, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who was kidnapped seven months ago at the Senior Staff Quarters of the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, threatening to embark on strike if she is not released within two weeks.
President Bola Tinubu had repeatedly appealed to Nigerian health workers practising abroad to “sacrifice their time to come back home and serve their people.” But the appeal apparently would always fall on deaf ears because even those calling for sacrifices travel overseas for treatment for even the slightest medical ailment.
Statistics from the World Health Organisation show that Nigeria currently has a shortage of medical doctors with a physician-to-patient ratio of four doctors to 10,000 patients. Meanwhile, in the US, the ratio is 26 doctors per 10,000 people and 28 in the UK.
The implication is that Nigerians will no longer have access to quality and affordable healthcare if the ‘japa’ syndrome remains unchecked. Many hospitals in the country lack basic medical equipment.
Poor remunerations, poor facilities, and insecurity are forcing professionals out of the country in great numbers. So it is not about sacrifice or patriotism; it is not that those staying behind love the country more than those leaving; it is about survival. To be patriotic, and to love one’s country, one must be alive first because there is no patriotism in the grave.
It is heart-warming that President Tinubu is concerned about the situation, particularly with regard to its attendant brain drain and loss of educated and talented youths. However, the issue is more complicated than that. Apart from the existential aspect of seeking a better life abroad, there is also the ethical question. Most Nigerian youths no longer see themselves as Nigerians. Sometimes you hear them ask themselves, “Guy, you still dey this country? When you go waka?” In fact, what is holding most of them back is not lack of the will or the destination, but the necessary funds, paperwork and the visa.
It has been argued by researchers that the youths’ desire to leave is intensified by the feeling that the values and ethos they embody and uphold are not adequately represented by the nation and its leadership. In other words, their body is here but their spirit is elsewhere because they feel that their present and their future have been mortgaged by their leaders. The crux of the matter therefore is that they are just tired. “Everybody don taya.” That is why they are running away, and that is the truth, as simple as it sounds.
So, first and foremost, President Tinubu and his team must win back the people’s trust. To achieve this, they must lead by example. They must cudgel their brains thoroughly and come up with practical solutions to the three-headed monster of hunger, unemployment and insecurity as a first step towards minimizing the mass exodus of Nigerians to foreign lands.
*Anthony Spinks is the Functg. Director-General, Delta State Public Procurement Commission, Asaba.
