The ‘Japa’ Syndrome and its Effect on National Economy: The Way Forward

Japa, is a coinage from the Western part of Nigeria where Yoruba language is spoken. Its literal connotation denotes ‘to skillfully depart in haste’. It has become a trending word for an uncontrolled migration by desperate or frustrated Nigerians searching for a conducive environment, greener than their primary source of livelihood. Most especially those that wish to breathe fresh air. At present, there may not be justifiable empirical fact to ascertain the total number of Nigerians living outside the shore of the country. However, various data from different sources show that certainly, millions of Nigerians are living abroad, especially in the western world. According to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, head of Nigerians in Diaspora commission, there were in 2017 about 15 million Nigerians in various parts of the world. Two years later, she reported an increased number of over 20 million Nigerians. (Vanguard, March 2017; December 2019)1 2. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Desa) most recent estimate of Nigerians in Diaspora was 1.7-million as of June 2020. (Polity, February 2021).Several reasons have been determined to be responsible for this culture of ‘Japa’ of recent. One of the reasons is the lack of job opportunity in the country for both graduates and non-graduates.