Udora Orizu in Abuja
Members of the House of Representatives at the plenary on Wednesday rejected a motion seeking to declare emigration of Young Nigerians abroad also known as the Japa Syndrome, a national emergency.
The sponsor, Hon. Philip Agbese, had while moving the motion, noted statistics from the Nigerian Economic Summit that a growing number of young Nigerians were relocating abroad.
He expressed concerns that the growing statistics of young Nigerians leaving Nigeria and securing permanent residence in the United Kingdom, the USA, and Canada portended a grave danger for the nation in many ways from Economic to intellectual and Social aspects.
He, therefore, prayed his colleagues to urge the federal government to convene a national summit with key stakeholders to effectively address the JAPA SYNDROME.
The lawmaker 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.
“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.
“Cognizant 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,” he explained.
However, there was commotion on the floor as many members frowned against it.
Hon. Sada Soli warned against adopting such motion because it was against the constitution.
Thus, when put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who presided, many lawmakers voted against it.
