Japa reversal: Five reasons Nigerians are abandoning life abroad for home

PRINCESS OSE ALUEDE

For years, relocating abroad, popularly known as Japa, has represented the ultimate escape from Nigeria’s economic challenges, with better salaries, improved living conditions, career advancement and access to global opportunities driving thousands of Nigerians overseas.

But beneath the success stories shared on social media, a different reality is emerging for some migrants: unemployment, homelessness, high living costs, family separation and the struggle to rebuild their lives in unfamiliar environments.

For some Nigerians, the dream of a better life abroad has failed to deliver the expected rewards. Others are returning home by choice, convinced that Nigeria offers opportunities for professional fulfilment, entrepreneurship and stronger family connections.

Although many Nigerians continue to pursue opportunities overseas, the experiences of those returning home challenge the assumption that success is determined by geographical location.

Here are five reasons some Nigerians are reconsidering life abroad and returning home.

1. Finding professional fulfilment: Why a US-based reporter returned

For one Nigerian reporter, returning home was not an admission of professional failure but a decision driven by personal fulfilment.

After working at a news station in the United States for several years, the journalist decided to return to Nigeria, explaining that she felt more fulfilled reporting stories about her own people.

Her experience highlights a motivation that financial comparisons often overlook: the desire to contribute directly to one’s society and tell stories that influence the lives of people with whom one shares a cultural and national identity.

While journalism offers opportunities internationally, some professionals may find greater meaning in covering local communities, documenting national developments and contributing to conversations about Nigeria’s future.

For such returnees, career satisfaction goes beyond salaries, workplace facilities or international exposure. The opportunity to make a difference in familiar surroundings can be equally important.

2. Family concerns and cultural upbringing

For some Nigerian families living abroad, concerns about their children’s behaviour, cultural identity and upbringing can influence decisions to return them to Nigeria.

One Nigerian who attended high school in the United States recounted how his parents sent him back to Nigeria to complete his secondary education after a prohibited substance was reportedly found in his possession.

According to his account, his parents believed that returning to Nigeria would provide an environment more consistent with their expectations for his upbringing.

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The experience illustrates the difficulties some families encounter when balancing different cultural influences, parenting approaches and expectations of independence.

For parents who believe their children need closer supervision or stronger connections with extended family, returning to Nigeria may appear to offer an opportunity for a fresh start.

However, such individual experiences do not establish that children raised abroad are generally less disciplined than those raised in Nigeria. Rather, they highlight how family circumstances and parental priorities can influence migration decisions.

3. Unemployment, homelessness and the harsh reality of living abroad

One of the most difficult experiences confronting some Nigerian migrants is the gap between their expectations before relocation and the realities they encounter after arrival.

A former bank manager who had enjoyed a comfortable life in Nigeria reportedly decided to relocate after a friend repeatedly portrayed life abroad as an opportunity for greater comfort and financial security.

However, the experience was far different from what he had anticipated.

According to his account, the friend who encouraged him to relocate was working as a dishwasher and gave him one month to secure employment or leave the accommodation.

Unable to find a job within the period, the former banker reportedly became homeless.

His experience illustrates how quickly a migrant’s circumstances can deteriorate when employment and accommodation arrangements fail.

Professional experience acquired in Nigeria does not automatically translate into immediate employment abroad. Migrants may encounter unfamiliar recruitment systems, requirements for recognising foreign qualifications, immigration restrictions and intense competition for jobs.

The cost of accommodation, transportation, healthcare and other essentials can also consume earnings, leaving migrants financially vulnerable when they lose employment or lack adequate savings.

For Nigerians considering relocation, such experiences underscore the importance of independently verifying job offers, understanding immigration requirements and establishing realistic financial plans before departure.

For some who return, the decision reflects a recognition that the stability they seek may be better pursued through opportunities available at home.

4. From migration to entrepreneurship: Building businesses in Nigeria

Not every Nigerian returning from abroad is escaping hardship. For some, the decision is a calculated move to establish businesses, invest in local opportunities and apply skills acquired overseas.

Exposure to international markets, technology, professional networks and business practices can provide returnees with experience they may use to develop enterprises in Nigeria.

Potential opportunities span agriculture, food processing, technology, fashion, hospitality and professional services.

A Nigerian with technology experience abroad, for instance, may choose to establish a digital services company in Lagos. Another may invest in food processing or develop a fashion brand that combines international influences with Nigerian materials and designs.

These ventures can provide an alternative to competing for salaried employment abroad while creating jobs and contributing to the domestic economy.

Nigeria’s large consumer market also offers opportunities for entrepreneurs who understand local demand and can develop products and services that address it.

However, returning to establish a business is not without risks. Access to finance, unreliable infrastructure, foreign exchange volatility and changing economic conditions can complicate business operations.

For prospective returnees, the attraction lies in the possibility of building and controlling an enterprise, creating employment and establishing a long-term presence in a market they understand.

5. Family ties, loneliness and the desire to reconnect with home

For some Nigerians, the emotional cost of living abroad becomes increasingly significant over time.

Years away from parents, siblings, extended family and familiar communities can create a sense of disconnection that financial success does not necessarily eliminate.

Important family occasions may be missed, while ageing parents may require assistance that is difficult to provide from thousands of kilometres away.

Parents raising children abroad may also want them to develop closer relationships with relatives and gain a deeper understanding of Nigerian traditions and cultural heritage.

Although digital communication and periodic visits help many migrants maintain family relationships, they cannot always replace physical presence and direct participation in family life.

For some, these considerations gradually change their understanding of success. What initially meant earning a higher salary or gaining international exposure may eventually mean being present for loved ones and contributing to the community.

The decision to return, therefore, may be less about rejecting opportunities abroad and more about reassessing personal priorities.

Beyond the Japa dream

The experiences of Nigerians returning home highlight the complex realities of international migration.

Unemployment, the high cost of living, housing difficulties, family responsibilities, cultural considerations and the desire to establish businesses are among the factors that may influence decisions to return.

At the same time, return migration should not be interpreted as evidence that life in Nigeria is automatically easier or more rewarding. Nigeria continues to face challenges involving inflation, infrastructure, employment and the cost of doing business.

For those returning with professional expertise, savings or business plans, the outcome may depend on their ability to identify realistic opportunities and prepare for the challenges of rebuilding their lives.

Ultimately, the Japa experience is not a universal story of success or failure. While some Nigerians find the opportunities they seek abroad, others discover that their ambitions, family needs or personal values are better served at home.

For the latter group, returning to Nigeria is not necessarily the end of a dream. It may be the beginning of a different one.