People just don’t wake up one day and leave their countries on a whim. They go when staying no longer seems like a real option for a decent life. Research keeps showing this. In The Gambia, for instance, a youth employment program made young people less interested in leaving, not because they felt more patriotic, but because they believed they could build something worthwhile at home. When old problems came back, their confidence faded, and so did the program’s impact.
The Japa conversation in Nigeria also continues to grow, and national leaders have responded. President Tinubu has continually urged young Nigerians to stay and contribute to national development while his Vice President Kashim Shettima has also raised concerns about the long-term impact of losing skilled professionals. These positions reflect a desire to retain talent, but they do not fully address the everyday realities shaping people’s decisions.
Recently, while in Lagos, I struggled to concentrate or remain productive because there was no electricity for 3 straight days in a Band A area where the power supply is expected to be more stable. My inverter, which was supposed to be a backup, failed, and I had to move into a hotel near home just to keep working. Even that became a challenge as I moved from one hotel to another because many could not guarantee uninterrupted power. It took several attempts to find a place that could switch from public supply to generator without disruption.
The experience I just briefly described was pretty exhausting and traumatic to deal with in real time. It highlighted how something as basic as electricity can determine whether individuals or businesses function effectively. Many businesses face these conditions daily and quietly absorb the losses that come with unreliable infrastructure.
The global environment is also becoming less accommodating. Across Europe and North America, the direction is becoming harder to ignore. Canada deported more than 360 Nigerians in 2025, with hundreds more facing removal. In the United States, thousands remain on deportation lists, and enforcement is picking up again. Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom continue coordinated return flights, sometimes sending groups back at once. These are not isolated cases. They point to a broader shift. For many Nigerians abroad, what once felt like a long-term opportunity is now increasingly uncertain and, in some situations, temporary.
There is also a persistent misconception that migration itself creates instability. Evidence suggests that tension arises mainly when systems fail to support integration and economic inclusion. Where institutions are weak, pressure builds within communities.
The issue is not that Nigerians want to leave but that too many are navigating conditions that make staying difficult. When basic systems function reliably, and opportunity becomes visible and attainable, the pressure to leave begins to ease in a natural and lasting way.
Abidemi is the Managing Editor @ Newspot Nigeria
