House of Representatives has rejected a motion, calling for the declaration of state of emergency on the emigration of young Nigerians abroad, also known as the ‘Japa’ Syndrome.

The motion sponsored by Hon Philip Agbese (APC, Benue) was rejected after presentation and debate at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Agbese said statistics from the Nigerian Economic Summit showed that a growing number of young Nigerians are relocating abroad.

He expressed concerns that the growing statistics of young Nigerians leaving the country and securing permanent residence in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada portends a grave danger for the nation in many ways.

The lawmaker prayed his colleagues to urge the federal government to convene a national summit with key stakeholders to effectively address Action Aid Empowers 669 Kaduna, Kano Women, Youths the Japa Syndrome.

He also prayed that the federal government should declare a state of emergency on the factors that predispose young Nigerians to give up on Nigeria in preference for other nations.

Agbese said the House is: “Aware that there is a 40% increase in the number of young Nigerians leaving the nation compared to the number captured in 2019, as the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs reported that international emigration from Nigeria in 2020 total 1.7million, which is a substantial increase from 990,000 in 2010.

“Also worried that those leaving Nigeria are not just the poor but middle class who possess skills/workforce including bankers, lecturers, health care practitioners, doctors, nurses, trained manpower, all of whom were trained in Nigeria and emigrating at a time when their services are needed to build a strong and vibrant economy in Nigeria.

“Disturbed that if this scenario continues with our able minds, brains and skilled personnel leaving, Nigeria may fall into grave crisis in our critical sectors from education to healthcare, thereby making a bad situation worse.

“Cognisant that in line with the Renewed Hope theme of the President Bola Tinubu administration, the triggers that predispose young Nigerians to find the choice to leave the country attractive, such as uncertainty of the duration of stay in higher institutions, poor living wages, growing unemployment, poor living condition, insensitive leadership, insecurity, post-graduation realities and among others, which makes young people frustrated, demands a declaration of a state of emergency in order to address the Japa Syndrome.

“Conscious that our young population remains one of our greatest assets, and although the prospects of a growing Nigerians in the Diaspora could be beneficial in a way, it should not be at the expense of our needed manpower, also as it bothers on national pride when our young bright minds leave the country in droves, conveying an impression that Nigeria is a sinking ship that everyone is rushing to get out of”.

But after moving the motion, the House was thrown into a kind of commotion as many members frowned against it with Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) warning that, adopting such motion is against the constitution.

When put to a voice vote by the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the session, so many lawmakers voted against it, hence it stood rejected.
By James Kwen
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