So you really want to “JAPA?”

 

The Japa syndrome has been in vogue or has been trending for some time. It is even more now that inflation is biting harder, Naira is weaker, and Dollar is a super-hero. But the question is: “why are people moving out of the country in droves? Where are they moving to? Is there any consequence(s) for moving out? Many Nigerians want to “Japa” because of the present economic hardship. They just want to leave the country to anywhere as far as it is not “Naija”. It could be Ghana, Togo, Morocco, Canada, Yankee or anywhere.

According to many of them who want to “Japa”. They want to be free from the manacle and the clutches of the woes bedeviling them in Nigeria.

The term “Japa” meaning to be free, run away, or migrate or escape from a present reality or problem was first popularized in 2020 after Naira Marley, a Nigerian singer released his singles titled “Japa”.

Many Naija just want to “Japa” not considering the harsh realities outside the shores of the country. Everyday many Nigerians are leaving the countries in droves without these factors that I want to share with you.

1.       Weather: Many people who want to “Japa” but have not considered the harsh weather especially in time of winter when snows will be falling. Many people cannot go to work during this time. Some even die (Kpayi) because of their health conditions. Even those who are citizens can hardly stand the weather not to talk of those who are not used to the weather. My friend in U.S told me that he was fired because he couldn’t come to work as a result of the snow sometime last year. 

 

2.       Slavery: Nigeria is still far better compared to other countries when we talk about freedom. A proverb in Yoruba says, “Eni ti o le se bi alaru loyingbo, ko le si bi alaru loja Oba.” This means that if you cannot do menial jobs (like those pushing carts at Oyingbo to eke a living) you cannot make it even if you travel abroad.

One of my friends who is a Nigerian-Canadian citizen visited me some years ago and he said many Nigerians cannot really work abroad. He said this when he saw the attitude of some workers when we visited a local council. According to him,”Oyinbo man no dey play. When they give you work for eight hours, you have to do it standing- no loitering or slagging or else you are fired.”

Last year, another friend of mine moved to the U.K with his wife. I spoke to him earlier this year and he said he couldn’t call me because he had lost his Job.

In Nigeria, the civil servants usually do their work with levity. That is why it is often said, “Oga to, oga ota, owo alaru a pe.” Meaning, the employee will always get his pay or due even there is no sale. We have this inherent lazy nature among many Nigerians especially among those working in government offices, parastatals and bureau. Once the D.G is on vacation, they take their leave too. If you have this lazy nature, you can’t make it whn you go abroad because the whites will not condone laziness. You only get what you work for. If you attempt that, the next day, you will be on the street.

3.       High taxes, fine, cost of living and other expenses: Many Nigerians just want to ‘Japa’ or migrate without doing research about the country they are moving to. Do the country pay high tax? What about the cost of living and other expenses? What about other expenses and bills associated with the living expenses? Some people have not really put these into consideration when they want to japa. Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest tax evaders. You can’t try that abroad and go scot-free. If the law caught up with you, you are a gunner. In Nigeria, it is possible not to pay for electricity, cable subscription, refuse disposal, traffic offence, etc. They know their way out of this and have all the short-cuts. When they are eventually caught, they can escape through the back door. You can’t really do this abroad. You pay for gas, electricity, parking lot, traffic offence and everything leviable.  By the time you deduct this out of your daily wages, you will see that you have little money left.

You have to buy your train ticket, bus ticket, pay for ferry and other bills. That is why you need to weigh the Prons and Cos before you migrate. There are some countries that the taxation is high, and the pay is little. Accommodation in some major cities is like living in Maitama or Banana Island and some highbrow areas in Nigeria. So, if you are still earning about 100k here in Nigeria and your annual rent is 250k, you are still a king. That is why some people living abroad for many years cannot even send you $100 and they will keep complaining that things are not easy out there.

4.       Penalty for Crime: If you are one of the conmen, whatsUp guys or ghetto boy, and you are planning to “Japa” you really need to put this factor into consideration. Countries like Malaysia, China, North Korea, Singapore and some other countries have zero tolerance to crime. So, if you can’t serve the time, do not commit the crime as the saying goes. Remember, that is not your father’s land. You might be executed or thrown into the gallons.

Some years ago, I was in Bulgaria for a conference, and we were kept in the airport for over five hours after our plane touched down. Our luggage were ransacked thoroughly for anything that have semblance of drugs. Eventually when were allowed to go, you can see only few blacks in that country. A country like this doesn’t joke with drugs and they have draconian laws for offenders. It is not like Nigeria that you know how to find your way and left off the hook.

5.       Permanent Residency (PR) or Citizenship: One major reason for migrating is to get citizenship or to have another country you can call home. But most times, this doesn’t come as fast as possible. This is another area of research if you want to “Japa”. Dubai, South Africa and some countries hardly give permanent residency to blacks no matter how long you live there. They believe you don’t deserve citizenship no matter how long you’ve been living there.

6.      

Racism: Some countries are extremely racists. In fact, while people are very racists and have this racist tendency in them. They still call Blacks ‘Baboons’, ‘monkeys’ ‘apes’ and other derogatory names. Racism is still practiced in countries like: South Africa, Germany, France, Bulgaria, United Kingdom and some other European countries. They treat blacks as second-class citizens or underdogs, and they don’t give a shit. So, if you are planning to migrate to any of these countries, be prepared for racial discrimination. I visited a supermarket in Holland last year and after getting some stuffs, I was told that when I returned my plastic bottles, I will be given some cents. I was really amazed because I have never seen this anywhere before not even in Nigeria. The next day after emptying the bottles, I went to the supermarket to get my ransom. After getting this, I asked if I could take a video or a picture. The lady said I could go ahead. It wasn’t more than two or three minutes while taking some pictures that a young white guy approached me that I cannot take pictures in the supermarket. That it is prohibited. I said that I was given permission to do what I was doing. He insisted and asked me to go out. I did not take it lightly with him, I stood up for my right and I started raising my voice and became the cynosure of eyes because I was like the only Black there. A guy who was an American only defended me and said this racism must stop and it was pure suppression of my right just because I am a Black person. This happened last year in Europe. As you are planning to go abroad, be prepared for violation of your right. It could be on the train, in the bus, at Metro station, in public places or anywhere. Just remember that this is not Naija where you can do anything.

7.       Respect for the LGBT rights: Many countries now (including Canada) are seeing the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender in persons as acceptable members of the society and have a very large community. In facts, that they have rights too and that their right must be protected and have formed a formidable force the world over. Countries that respect these ‘disgruntled elements’ as acceptable members of the society should be a ‘No-No’ for you if you hate anything immoral or you intend to carry your religion beyond bounds. Don’t even go there. If you do, please respect their rights or just keep your mouth shut. I was to go for a volunteer program abroad about two years ago and while filling the form, I was asked if I would respect the rights of the LGBT. Immediately I saw this, I declined and did not go for the program. I knew this because I have been told before. What if I did not know or I wasn’t aware?

8.       Where you can’t find Blacks or Nigerians: It is a truism that blacks are scattered everywhere around the globe. If you are eventually landed in your dream country, and you can’t find any Blacks there (whether Nigerians, Ghanaians, Malians, Senegalese, Congolese, Zambians, etc.)  Please, take your bag and leave because you are in danger.

9.       Security: Apart from economic reason, financial freedom and other reasons, ‘Security’ comes top among the reasons for migration. I think your life and the life of your family are very important. Migrating to some Asia countries and some areas where you have people who are cannibals might not be a good consideration if you are seeking greener pasture. Some countries are always going to war, year in, year out. So, why live in a country where you cannot enjoy your peace even if you are making dough? There are some countries like Switzerland, Canada, Australia, etc. that have not experience war for more than thirty years. You need to check this up because deciding to move you and your family there.

10.   Natural disasters: Some countries are prone to natural disasters like: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flood, tsunami etc. If you have been seeing this on news or on the social media, it shouldn’t be a good place to migrate to. This is because your life might be in danger. There are some countries like: India, China, Indonesia, Philippines, America, Columbia, Brazil. Venezuela, Afghanistan, Thailand, etc.

11.   Welfare and Social Security: Some countries have attractive and juicy offers both for their citizens and migrants. If anything is tempting you from leaving your country, it should be offers such as job security, welfare and social security. If you moved into a country after five years and you are not settled even after working like a Jackie, it is better to leave that country or just bury, the shame and come back home. Some people have left Nigeria for more than ten years and they are not better than a cleaner in Nigeria. They still don’t have their permit yet and can’t boast of $5,000 in their account. In fact, it seems that nothing has really changed since they have Japa. If you are in such condition, you need to find your way to another country or just come back home and start a new life maybe going abroad might not be to your benefit.

12.   Destiny: Going abroad is very good. I love travels too. In fact, it is my desire to see the world. Moving round the world, you see beautiful things – you meet new people, learn new culture and all that. But the fact is that not many people are destined to make it abroad. This is the hard truth. There are many people who have travelled abroad and are even citizens, but nothing seems to be working for them. My landlord son has been a citizen when I was in primary school. After leaving university many years ago and working on my own, I paid it a visit to the only house that he built around Ojodu area. On getting there, you will think that is it ‘Ghost town.’ The house was deserted, it has reached completion stage, and I wondered the architect who draft the plan of the building. This is someone who has been living abroad for more than 40 years and a citizen. I mean in the UK. To make matter worse, he doesn’t even have a car to cruise around anytime he comes to Nigeria. The other time I some him in Nigeria that was about six years ago, I couldn’t even stop to say “Hi.” I know another person that has been living abroad for years and came back and for the past three days that I have been seeing him, it is just one T-shift that he put on. I can go on and on and tell you that some might not be destined to make it abroad. The problem with some people is that they just join the mad throng. They hear that people are going to Canada or America and they too want to go there. They didn’t ask if God has destined them to make it there or if their destiny is there. If your destiny is not there, you might spend years abroad and your life might not be something to write home about. You might be as worse as people from your village or hometown. It might surprise you that some people are living abroad, but they are actually squatting and have not residence permit. They don’t even have papers and are running up and down because they are running for police or immigration. If you are any of their siblings, you cannot get them on phone. He or she will call you and it is not you are calling them because their number won’t go through. If they call you with this number today, it is another number they will use to call you tomorrow. Those who have deluded belief that once you landed abroad, you start picking Dollars or Euros are living in fools’ paradise. You just need to go abroad yourself and try it. That is why it is important to pray and ask for God’s guidance before travelling abroad. It is likely your destiny might not be there. Some people are controlling millions while working here in Nigeria or running their small businesses. But they just decided to move abroad because they believe that will hit it big there. When they eventually got there, they found it that things are really difficult and can’t come back home. You might be surprised that they are asking you in Nigeria to send money to them. Have you not heard of someone who is doing well in Nigeria, and he is very healthy and wealthy and all of a sudden, he moved to the UK, Canada or America and not more than six months, the person died. Some people might say it is natural. It isn’t. If it is natural, why did he not die in Nigeria and hasn’t stayed long in a foreign land before yielding up the ghost. The point I am making here is that not everyone is destined to make it big abroad. Some travel abroad, but don’t live there. They just make their money here and go for vacation or holiday just to unwind from the stress of Nigeria. You might choose that path.

13.   High Crime Rate and Moral Debauchery: If you are planning to more to another country, you need to seriously consider the crime rate in that country. Is it high or low? Some countries have high curtsy of drug abuse, immorality, rape, incest, abortion, lawlessness, atheism, etc. If you have a good Christian or Muslim and you are going there, the question is, “Can you face the music?”

14.   Stronger Passport: One of the reasons why some people are migrating to the UK, USA, Canada or Australia is because their passport is very strong. When you eventually become a citizen of that country, the passport gives you access to many, countries without applying for a visa.

Recently, I was following a Nigerian lady on Facebook who toured many countries in the world. I was wondering how she could afford such a leisure and just more freely without any hindrance. We got connected on phone and I asked her how she was able to make her trips to over scores of countries on train, bus and sometimes on flight. She told me that she was a British citizen having moved in the UK in the 80s. It is important to consider how strong a country’s passport is if you want to Japa. There are some countries you become the citizen and you aren’t proud of it because you can go more than few countries without immigration restrictions or birder checks. Most times, the country is not even a force to be reclined with among the comity of nations. So why go there?   

Religion or your Spiritual Wellbeing: I think your spiritual well-being should be another point of consideration if you are planning to japa. In this part of the world, we are very religious - we go to church or mosque. Even those who don't go to places of worship, have fear of God. That is why Fridays or Sundays is for both Christians or Muslims to go and worship their God. When you get to your dream country, you have might religious restrictions (in some parts) or just suddenly discovered that the people out there are free thinkers or not religious like where you are coming from, In abroad people go to work on Sundays as it is seen as other days of the week. If you are a very pious or saintly person, you might discover that you might want to relax your religious beliefs and practice because of your new environment. Your new friend is drunkards, your co-worker is a womanizer and your next-door Neighbour loves partying and go clubbing. Before long, you are gone and join the Mad throng of evildoers. That is why it is important to critically look at this before you japa. Is there a church in that country you are going to? Are there people of like-precious faith there? Can you serve your God freely when you eventually get there? These are few questions to ask. But if you are the type that doesn't have any spiritual foundation or moral upbringing, it might not really be a factor. But the truth is, whether you like it or not you either serve God or mammon (money or material things). It is either you are on the side of God or Satan.