In a recent survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) in Abuja, a significant number of residents expressed their desire to
relocate abroad due to the challenging economic conditions prevailing
nationwide.
Some individuals expressed concerns regarding the
challenging economic climate not only in our country but also globally. They
expressed hope for an economic recovery to encourage citizens to remain in
their homeland.
Some individuals, such as Mr. Raphael Adeyi, a sales
analyst, have observed that a portion of the Nigerian population engages in
international travel in pursuit of more favorable living conditions and
enhanced employment prospects.
“In Nigeria, once you tell someone you have been abroad, you
get exclusive treatment.
“I think this can be attributed to the low self-esteem
possessed by most Nigerians.
“They don’t even care if the abroad is Togo, Niger or
Somalia. To them, abroad is abroad,” Adeyi said.
John Atoms, a marketing professional, stated that Nigerian
citizens seek opportunities in other countries due to the ease of pursuing
careers there. He further indicated his willingness to relocate abroad if given
the chance.
“It is not that I don’t love Nigeria, but the fact is that
the system is so bad, it takes connection to actually get something tangible
running here.
“Outside Nigeria, if you have the right information, and
you’re ready to work, you will be gainfully employed,’’ he said.
He further stated that Nigeria should foster a conducive
environment that enables the growth and prosperity of emerging enterprises.
“We can see how international businesses have been folding
up and returning to their country of origin or moving to other countries that
have a working system,” he said.
George Amahwe, a logistics coordinator, stated that families
relocate to provide a better future for their children.
“A person will graduate and there is no job, no good road,
the economy is crashing.
“People travel mainly to seek greener pastures. They believe
they can survive, work and earn good money over there than in Nigeria.
“If I have a good paying job here in Nigeria, I will not
leave. Nigeria is my country and I love it but I can’t stay because things are
not working well, “he said.
In the opinion of Amahwe, Nigeria has the potential to
become a highly developed and prosperous nation if it can successfully
implement and maintain a comprehensive infrastructure development plan.
“We need to have good educational systems, health care
systems and good roads. The government needs to do better,” he said.