An increasing number of Nigerians who previously migrated in pursuit of better opportunities have started returning home, citing unmet expectations and depression in their host countries.
The development is a reversal of the popular “Japa” trend, which has seen millions of Nigerian youths migrate to Europe, America and Asia in search of better living conditions and job opportunities.
The Japa trend
In 2023, the International Organisation for Migration reported that approximately 260,000 Nigerians approached them for assistance to migrate, with the United Kingdom being the primary destination of 80% of them.
According to the Nigerian Immigration Service, over 3.6 million Nigerians migrated to other countries within two years.
The NIS Migration Information Data Analysis System showed that 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 that had left Nigeria within two years.
But now, some of these Nigerians are returning home to rebuild their lives.
Some of the returnees who spoke to Saturday PUNCH said life abroad was not as easy as it seemed, and many of the challenges they faced were hidden behind the glamorous images often shown to others.
Reality far from expectations
A 30-year-old nurse who claimed to have spent two years in the United States, Judith Okoli, said after moving abroad in 2017 for career advancement, the reality of life in the US was far from her expectations.
Okoli, who spoke to one of our correspondents, said despite earning a steady income, the high cost of living, isolation, and racism left her feeling unfulfilled.
According to her, she endured “a lonely life.”
Okoli recalled facing discrimination in her professional life and a persistent sense of exclusion that constantly reminded her that she was not part of the system.
“You just never feel welcomed, whereas in Nigeria, you feel at home,” she added.
Despite earning a decent income, she explained that the high cost of living in the US left little to show for it.
“My rent alone was over $3,000 monthly. By the time you pay for bills, car notes, insurance, and taxes, you begin to wonder, what is the point?”
Driven by a desire to reconnect with her roots, Okoli decided to return to Nigeria in 2019.
Her transition was not seamless; early business ventures in beauty and marketing failed, but she eventually found passion in farming.
She said, “Farming became something I could grow and develop. Five years later, I now have a business I can watch over and expand. My side hustle is now my main hustle.”
She urged Nigerians abroad to reconsider making foreign countries their permanent homes.
“It should be a temporary place to get what you need and come back to do what you truly want,” she emphasised. “Many have been abroad for 10 years and cannot afford a flight home.”
Okoli noted that with proper planning, a consistent income stream, and a commitment to reinvest at home, returning to Nigeria could bring fulfillment, reconnection with family, and a sense of peace that money can’t buy.
“I planned. I failed. I went back. I re-strategised,” she said. “But now I’m back for good, and this time, I’m doing it right.”
‘Mental health made me return’
In a TikTok video, Kenny Igho, who recently returned to Nigeria from the United States, said her decision to move back was driven by unhappiness and mental health struggles.
Kenny, a mother of two, emphasised that her decision was not impulsive but a gradual realisation that she needed a change for her well-being.
She said, “The reason is because I was not happy; I was troubled. I didn’t have peace; I was anxious. Every little thing got me anxious, and I realised I was sliding into a subtle depression, so I’m like, I don’t think I want to do this anymore.
“It wasn’t a spontaneous decision; it was gradual. But at this point, I would say yes, my mind is fully made up. So, am I nervous? No, not anymore. I used to be before I thought of what to do in Nigeria, because going to Nigeria, you have to be sure; it is the truth. You have to know what you want to go and do.
“I have spoken to people. I have told them about wanting to go, and you realise that a lot of people are in your shoes, but the only thing that is stopping them is fear. And for real, I was listening to somebody and he said the barrier between you and your success is fear.”
I quit my job in US – Doctor
Another returnee, Dr Julius Oni, an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, said he quit his job at Johns Hopkins University in the United States and moved back to Nigeria with his family.
Oni, in a video on TikTok, disclosed that he returned to Nigeria after spending 25 years in the US to set up a musculoskeletal care facility.
He said, “Six weeks ago, I relocated from the US to Nigeria. I took a leave of absence from my job at Johns Hopkins, sold my house, sold cars, packed my bags alongside my lovely wife and beautiful children and moved after 25 years of living in the USA
“I know at this point, some of you may call me delusional or even crazy, but I’m neither. I’m just a man full of conviction.
“I happen to believe that Nigerian patients deserve great care, too. As part of my mission, I have started DOC Medical Nigeria, which offers high-quality musculoskeletal care to the population. This article was originally published by Punchng.com and has been adapted for further clarity.
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