MASS MIGRATION OF NIGERIANS: ADDRESSING THE JAPA SYNDROME Sadly, it has come to my notice that many Nigerian citizens are leaving or planning to leave this country in the name of looking for greener pastures. This ‘japa' mentality or what I will call a ‘give up' mindset is an evidence that our people believe that there are better opportunities of survival outside our beloved country Nigeria. This paper examines the effect of mass migration of citizens in our country and its economic repercussions alongside the role of my administration as a minister of the Federal Republic in militating this challenge. The truth remains that, first and foremost, when we have persons moving from our country, it has a negative impact on our output and development. Who will do the planting of raw materials ? Who will convert these raw materials to finished products? And who will send these products to consumers for profit output for the good of the economy ? When majority leaves, professionals are lost, brain drains, gender misbalances and the work load becomes overwhelming for the available innocent citizens who may have very little to contribute to national economy. Secondly, to all citizens moving outside the country. You should know that you are going to face a very serious competition for job, houses, school facilities and so on in whatever country you choose to run to. Additionally, you could be exposed to further dangers of exploitation as you will work so hard and will not get as much compensation as indigenes of the country you go to. Lastly, you are only adding more trouble to the country you are migrating to because, the more people move into a country, the more such a country becomes overpopulated and the resources available will not be able to go round. This is to herald a clarion call. “Oh you citizens who are out of our country Nigeria!—be it in their body or in their minds—remember that the effort you put into struggling to survive in another man’s land will in a long run only benefit another man”. You live your people behind, only to go and dish out your inherited talent for a purse of coin? Nigerians have been doing well outside the country. In fact, in many industries outside the country, it is very rare that you don’t see a Nigerian heading or innovating something groundbreaking. My question for you is, “how much have they made in their own name?” The glory of such talented Nigerians always goes to the rating of the foreign country not Nigeria. I still recall that the wealthiest black man is still in Nigeria; the wealthiest black man is still in his own country; Nigeria is the home of the wealthiest black man. As a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I must first empathize with the plights of our dear citizens. Whether talented or untalented, we all have the right to even distribution of resources and opportunities. Sadly, this has not been the case. For the future of our unborn children, we must please sacrifice and take deliberate steps to make our country a better place. Moving out as we can see above will not make any positive impact. However, my team and I have come up with strategies, and suggestions which with your support and implementation of the government will help militate the issue of mass migration of citizens from our country. One of my administration's strategy in militating this challenge is ‘meritocracy’. Yes, if there is anything that makes for faster development and economic stability, it is the investment in genuinely talented individuals who have the technical know-how rather than people who are there because they know somebody that knows somebody. Our economy needs revival, if we risk that for favoritism, the economy will crash and people will ‘japa' (run). When citizens know that when they are skilled, they will get employed definitely, it makes them actually get better and productive which will be of great advantage to our national economy. Another urgent area of concern of my administration will be creating an enabling environment for businesses by raising accessibility to grants and loans. The government can not think alone. We will leverage and invest on talented entrepreneurs to partake in the economic play of the country. We will also be reducing tax levies that have discouraged several entrepreneurs. The Dangote we are talking about today owes his wealth and success rate from the support of the government. We will make this happen to each and as many entrepreneur that emerges. With that, companies will spring up and employment opportunities will be created. Thirdly, my administration will do our best in raising the minimum wage of the work force. This most be followed by public and these private sectors. In fact, it is a thing of shame that the rate of inflation is unequal to the level of survival remuneration of Nigerian workers. In many countries, this is not the case and we have leveraged on understudying this reality from other countries and decided to utilize it for our people. Furthermore, we will push for an equitable redistribution of resources across all states. Tax generated from the private and public sector have honestly not been channeled to all states in proportion to their productivity. We can not play politics with the economy. Developmental projects such as accessible road, hospitals, schools, industries, transportation amenities and so on will be evenly constructed to make life better. Lastly, we will educate and train the Nigeria work force for maximal productivity of the dying economy. The private sectors and business leaders can create an environment for transfer of knowledge And tech skills, by Nigerian professionals that we have inside and outside the country. We will have training centers and numerous workshops that will boost our knowledge base. In conclusion, it is obvious that the effect of mass migration is felt by our country Nigeria, the migrants themselves, the foreign country and even the innocent citizens remaining in Nigeria. Militating the reoccurrence of this phenomenon will not be an easy task. My administration will leverage on meritocracy, entrepreneurship opportunities, equitable redistribution of resources among other strategies to help curb this ‘japa’ syndrome. We call everyone—together we can.
