Reps Reject Motion Seeking To Ban Nigerians From ‘Japa’ Syndrome

The House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously rejected a motion seeking to ban young Nigerians from leaving the country.

Naija News learnt that the motion was raised by Rep. Philip Agbese (APC-Benue), who was based in the United Kingdom before becoming a lawmaker in Nigeria during plenary.

Presenting the motion, the lawmaker said the emigration of young Nigerians abroad, known as ‘Japa’ syndrome, should be declared a national emergency.

According to Agbese, statistics from the Nigerian Economic Summit showed that a growing number of young Nigerians leaving the country and securing permanent residence in the UK, the USA, and Canada portends a grave danger for the country from Economic to intellectual and Social aspects.

He said the recent reports by African Polling Institute indicated that 69 per cent of young people would opt to relocate if given the chance.

Agbese said there was a 40 per cent 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 (DESA) reported.

He also said that the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs revealed that international emigration from Nigeria in 2020 totalled 1.7 million, which was a substantial increase from 990,000 in 2010.

When the Speaker of the House, Reps Tajudeen Abbas, subjected the motion to a vote, it was unanimously rejected by the lawmakers.