Saturday, 3rd Oct; 2026

By Editor 

“Japa” has become one of the most popular words among young Nigerians. For many, it represents hope the hope of finding a better job, earning more money and building a more comfortable life somewhere outside Nigeria. 

But what if there is another side to the japa story that we rarely talk about? 

At a recent three-day capacity-building training on safe migration and economic empowerment under the ROOTS programme, stakeholders were reminded that migration itself is not the problem. The real danger is irregular migration travelling without the right documentation, relying on fraudulent agents or embarking on dangerous journeys without understanding the laws and realities of the destination country. 

And this is where the conversation about japa needs to become more honest. 

Some young people sell property, borrow heavily or spend their entire savings to finance a journey abroad, believing that once they arrive, life will automatically become easier. But money does not grow on trees abroad. You still have to work, adapt, obey the law and compete for opportunities. 

For some undocumented migrants, the reality can include exploitation, detention, deportation, trauma and, in the most tragic cases, loss of life. 

This does not mean Nigerians should not migrate. Migration can open doors, provide new experiences and create opportunities. But if we must travel, we should travel with information, documentation and a realistic understanding of what awaits us. 

Perhaps the biggest lesson from the ROOTS programme is that telling young people not to “japa” is not enough. We must also create reasons for them to believe that they can build meaningful lives at home. That means skills, jobs, access to finance and opportunities that allow young Nigerians to turn their energy into something productive. 

So before selling everything for that journey abroad, perhaps ask one more question: 

Am I running towards an opportunity, or simply running away from my reality? 

You see sometimes, the difference between a dream and a disaster is simply having the right information.

Nworisa Michael is the coordinator of Inter-tribe Community Support Forum-ICSF and writes from nworisamichael1917@gmail.com