WHY DO NIGERIANS RELOCATE TO FOREIGN LANDS?

This title can aptly qualify as a million dollar question even though it sounds rhetorical. However, I will try my best in answering the question to the best of my ability. Meanwhile, regardless of the number of reasons one may adduce as the cause(s) of this unending exodus of Nigerians, mostly youths, from their fatherland I will only aggregate all the reasons as just one. Lack of hope in the country and its leadership!

NIGERIA: ANY HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE? 

It is common knowledge that this our country has no promising future for the average Nigerians. It is an understatement to say that our political leaders are insensitive to our plights as citizens of this country despite its very high potentials.

Constant and regular supply of electricity has become so elusive that when occasionally we are given supply for up to 2 hours continually in a day we think it is a mistake on the part of the power authority (PHCN or NEPA as we still call it). We have been so use to irregular and low-voltage power supply! We all can imagine what this problem alone is causing you and me.

Our governments see nothing wrong in our universities being shut down for months owing to ASUU strikes. Even the standard of education has fallen so much that parents now aid and abet their wards and children in exam malpractices. After all, no parents want to continue spending on a child to write WAEC-SSCE or NECO-SSCE more than 2 times maximum.

The health sector is not spared of the insensitivity of our leaders. Many supposed Teaching Hospitals are not better than local health centres in developed nations. Other health facilities are as good as mortuaries.

Our roads have become death traps over the years. Many innocent lives are lost on a daily basis in road accidents owing to the poor states of the roads.

To worsen the already bad situation, religious, ethnic and communal violence are gradually becoming a part of our live.

Crime and criminality are on the increase. Kidnapping that started like a child’s play has now become a cherished ‘profession’. Because no one can tell who the next victim will be, you carefully choose where to go in your fatherland. Some parts of the land are ‘no go’ areas. Nothing seems to be working normally in our beloved country!

A visit to the international departure lounge of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA) in Lagos will definitely charge your emotions. You will see youthful Nigerians who should be its strength trooping out of the country in their numbers.
‘To where?’ you may ask. Of course, to better countries where ‘animal rights’ are respected; where human rights are too precious to be trampled upon; where social amenities are rights and not privileges; where governments listen to the complaints of their citizens; and where everything works normally. Do you blame those travelling out of Nigeria to seek better living conditions? If you do, I don’t. And if you must be sincere to yourself, I know you will not blame them. After all, who no want better life? I ask: who no like better things? If you don’t, I do. I know you too do!