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People don’t wake up one day and just leave their country. They leave when staying there no longer seems like a real option for a decent life. Research continues to show this. In The Gambia, for example, youth employment programs have made young people less inclined to leave their country, not because they feel more patriotic, but because they believe they can build something worthwhile in their country. When old problems resurface, their confidence fades, and so does the impact of the program.
The Japa conversation in Nigeria also continues to grow, and national leaders have responded. President Tinubu continued to urge young Nigerians to stay and contribute to national development, while his Vice President Kashim Shettima also raised concerns about the long-term impact of the loss of skilled professionals. These positions reflect a desire to retain talent, but do not fully address the everyday realities that shape people’s decisions.
Recently, while in Lagos, I had difficulty concentrating or remaining productive because there was no electricity for 3 days in a row in the Band A area which is thought to have a more stable electricity supply. My inverter, which was supposed to be a backup, failed, and I had to move to a hotel close to home just to keep working. It even became a challenge when I moved from one hotel to another because many could not guarantee uninterrupted electricity. It took several attempts to find a place that could switch from public supply to generator without interruption.
The experience I have just briefly described is quite exhausting and traumatic to deal with in real time. This report highlights how something as basic as electricity can determine whether an individual or business can function effectively. Many businesses face these conditions every day and silently suffer losses due to unreliable infrastructure.
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The global environment has also become less accommodating. Across Europe and North America, this trend is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Canada is deporting more than 360 Nigerians in 2025, and hundreds more face expulsion. In the United States, thousands of people remain on deportation lists, and law enforcement is back on track. Germany, Ireland and the UK continued to conduct coordinated flights home, sometimes sending groups back all at once. This is not an isolated case. They point to broader changes. For many Nigerians abroad, what once felt like a long-term opportunity has now become increasingly uncertain and, in some situations, temporary.
There is also a persistent misconception that migration itself creates instability. Evidence suggests that tensions arise especially when systems fail to support economic integration and inclusion. When institutions are weak, stress will arise in society.
The problem is not that Nigerians want to leave their country, but that many people face conditions that make it difficult for them to remain there. When basic systems function well, and opportunities become visible and achievable, the pressure to leave the company begins to diminish naturally and lasts.
AUTHOR: Abidemi Adebamiwa
Articles published in our Graffiti section are solely the opinion of the author and do not represent the views of Ripples Nigeria or its editorial stance.
