NewStats: 3,265,128 , 8,185,746 topics. Date: Friday, 13 June 2025 at 03:08 PM 5k2m2

Japa: Many Nigerians abroad living in regrets, depression, Abike Dabiri-Erewa claims

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said many Nigerians abroad kept bombarding her agency with calls, expressing regrets and depression.


Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), on Saturday claimed many Nigerians living abroad live in regrets and depression.


Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said in a tweet on Saturday that many Nigerians abroad kept bombarding her agency with calls, expressing regrets and depression.

Her statement comes as a reaction to a UK-based lawyer, Dele Olawale’s tweet stating, “The UK immigration atmosphere is becoming toxic. Things are becoming increasingly difficult. If you are doing well in your home country, think very well before you leave or sell everything to come over here.”

“Many depressed people. Many broken lives. Many broken homes. Many stranded families. Irreversible regret. Could you not do it because others are doing it? Think thrice before making the jump! Most importantly, get legal advice before you throw your job and prized possessions away for nothing,” Mr Olawale said.

Quoting Mr Olawale’s tweet, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said, “I hope this message resonates. We @nidcom_gov have been bombarded with many cases of regrets and depression,” Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said. “As @MoroOjomo said, “ the grass is not greener on the other side; it’s greener where you nurture it.”

This comes as Nigerians continue to leave the country for greener pastures abroad, a trend popularly termed japa, a Yoruba word for escape.

Increased economic hardship, inflation, and unprecedented cost of living crisis have increased the number of Nigerians leaving the country in recent times.

In 2024, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said some Nigerians fled to countries worse than Nigeria.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa appealed to Nigerian influencers and bloggers to help sensitise citizens against fleeing to countries “worse than” Nigeria.

“Please, we appeal to bloggers and influencers. Help us appeal to Nigerians that where you are running to is worse than where you are running from (Nigeria),” she said.

https://gazettengr.com/japa-many-nigerians-abroad-living-in-regrets-depression-abike-dabiri-erewa-claims/

Toh

Hidden truth that reasonable number of people are not aware of

Let everyone try their luck first

Are you not the ones that drove them into it? Mindless fellows.

Very true... think well o!!! Do not sell everything o! 😂

And do not come if you have nothing tangible like a certificate. The UK particularly is clo even for doctors who used to have an advantage!

Go an sit down @Abike. Your star is not other people's star. You are an unrepentant pessimist and never see good in other people's achievements.

What's this Igbo hater saying? Your bad luck is not other people's story.

I pray to everyone in abroad that God should hv mercy on them

I believe her 100%

This is mostly applicable to Nigerians that migrated to UK via study route. UK can be frustrating, forget the fine pictures, that country was never structured to make migrants succeed, only fortunate ones with high in demand skills and physical strength succeed in UK.



Another country Nigerians always regret migrating to is Cyprus.


Avoid the below mentioned countries if you are a Nigerian that want to Japa abroad

Cyprus
South Africa
Spain
Turkey (except for buying things)
Vietnam
India
Russia
Philippines
Indonesia
Malaysia
Dubai
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Egypt

The truth is most of them voted APC in 2015.

Mrfeel:
Let everyone try their luck first

Abi

Yen yen Native Hen

Migrate as a skilled worker most especially STEM courses - Direct PR (fly in & fly out at will)

Express Entry, Skilled Migrant,Chancenkarte, Skill Select

Asylum seekers route na 50-50
Schooling is becoming 50-50(most especially non-STEM courses) and very expensive 😥

#legal- Nairaland Travel Section is very resourceful 💯. You don't need Agent kola 😕

Is living in Nigeria any better?

Nigeria is a hell extra ordinary of its own under this useless government Abike is subserving.

If they could come home to a better Nigeria, will they be depressed?

Fake news

I will find out when I go there.

True

Leave us there. Don’t bother about our regret.
90% of una wey they the corntree they regret

COMRADES are speechless, is she trying to say that Nigeria is now good under the leadership of Tinubu?

What a nonsense

God help us.

Amen 🙏

Are we back to this Anti-Japa matter...!

This one no really concern over 80% of Nigerians living in Nigeria, ma.

Majority of Nigerians can't afford to even Japa to neighboring African nations.

So, why the constant focus on the select few who chose to relocate?!!

Are the majority left in Nigeria not depressed and suffering too?!!



You Nigerian leaders and followers just enjoy distracting yourselves from the realities facing you guys in Naija.

helinues:
Toh

Hidden truth that reasonable number of people are not aware of

Get port first then cross border before commenting. Zone B

phantomxx:
Very true... think well o!!! Do not sell everything o! 😂

And do not come if you have nothing tangible like a certificate. The UK particularly is clo even for doctors who used to have an advantage!

🤣🤣🤣🤣fake info

A

People come online to say they regret traveling abroad. Oya come back with the money you have made so far now, it’s probably higher than what you had before traveling abroad, then they’ll start giving excuses.

However, if you’re broke abroad with no path to getting a green card or citizenship, e.g. if you overstayed your tourist or student visa, then that’s a valid reason to regret traveling abroad

helinues:
Toh

Hidden truth that reasonable number of people are not aware of

This róbot will always talk first before his brain activates