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Japa-da: Nigerians abroad return home amid dashed expectations

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An increasing number of Nigerians who previously migrated in pursuit of better opportunities have started returning home, citing unmet expectations and depression in their host countries.

The development is a reversal of the popular “Japa” trend, which has seen millions of Nigerian youths migrate to Europe, America and Asia in search of better living conditions and job opportunities.

The Japa trend

In 2023, the International Organisation for Migration reported that approximately 260,000 Nigerians approached them for assistance to migrate, with the United Kingdom being the primary destination of 80 per cent of them

According to the Nigerian Immigration Service, over 3.6 million Nigerians migrated to other countries within two years.

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The NIS Migration Information Data Analysis System showed that about 2,115,139 persons emigrated from Nigeria in 2022, while 1,574,357 left the country from January to September 31, 2023, making it a total of 3,679,496 that had left Nigeria within two years.

But now, some of these Nigerians are returning home to rebuild their lives.

Some of the returnees who spoke said life abroad was not as easy as it seemed, and many of the challenges they faced were hidden behind the glamorous images often shown to others.

Reality far from expectations

A 30-year-old nurse who claimed to have spent two years in the United States, Judith Okoli, said after moving abroad in 2017 for career advancement, the reality of life in the US was far from her expectations.

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Okoli, who spoke to one of our correspondents, said despite earning a steady income, the high cost of living, isolation, and racism left her feeling unfulfilled.

According to her, she endured “a lonely life.”

Okoli recalled facing discrimination in her professional life and a persistent sense of exclusion that constantly reminded her that she was not part of the system.

“You just never feel welcomed, whereas in Nigeria, you feel at home,” she added.

Despite earning a decent income, she explained that the high cost of living in the US left little to show for it.

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“My rent alone was over $3,000 monthly. By the time you pay for bills, car notes, insurance, and taxes, you begin to wonder, what is the point?”

Driven by a desire to reconnect with her roots, Okoli decided to return to Nigeria in 2019.

Her transition was not seamless; early business ventures in beauty and marketing failed, but she eventually found passion in farming.

She said, “Farming became something I could grow and develop. Five years later, I now have a business I can watch over and expand. My side hustle is now my main hustle.”

She urged Nigerians abroad to reconsider making foreign countries their permanent homes.

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“It should be a temporary place to get what you need and come back to do what you truly want,” she emphasised. “Many have been abroad for 10 years and cannot afford a flight home.”

Okoli noted that with proper planning, a consistent income stream, and a commitment to reinvest at home, returning to Nigeria could bring fulfillment, reconnection with family, and a sense of peace that money can’t buy.

“I planned. I failed. I went back. I re-strategised,” she said. “But now I’m back for good, and this time, I’m doing it right.”

‘Mental health made me return’

In a TikTok video, Kenny Igho, who recently returned to Nigeria from the United States, said her decision to move back was driven by unhappiness and mental health struggles.

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Kenny, a mother of two, emphasised that her decision was not impulsive but a gradual realisation that she needed a change for her well-being.

She said, “The reason is because I was not happy; I was troubled. I didn’t have peace; I was anxious. Every little thing got me anxious, and I realised I was sliding into a subtle depression, so I’m like, I don’t think I want to do this anymore.

“It wasn’t a spontaneous decision; it was gradual. But at this point, I would say yes, my mind is fully made up. So, am I nervous? No, not anymore. I used to be before I thought of what to do in Nigeria, because going to Nigeria, you have to be sure; it is the truth. You have to know what you want to go and do.

“I have spoken to people. I have told them about wanting to go, and you realise that a lot of people are in your shoes, but the only thing that is stopping them is fear. And for real, I was listening to somebody and he said the barrier between you and your success is fear.”

I quit my job in US – Doctor

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Another returnee, Dr Julius Oni, an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, said he quit his job at Johns Hopkins University in the United States and moved back to Nigeria with his family.

Oni, in a video on TikTok, disclosed that he returned to Nigeria after spending 25 years in the US to set up a musculoskeletal care facility.

He said, “Six weeks ago, I relocated from the US to Nigeria. I took a leave of absence from my job at Johns Hopkins, sold my house, sold cars, packed my bags alongside my lovely wife and beautiful children and moved after 25 years of living in the USA

“I know at this point, some of you may call me delusional or even crazy, but I’m neither. I’m just a man full of conviction.

“I happen to believe that Nigerian patients deserve great care, too. As part of my mission, I have started DOC Medical Nigeria, which offers high-quality musculoskeletal care to the population.

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“Part of my effort is to provide access to care so that people do not have to travel to access high-quality orthopedic surgery care.”

My village people did not force my return – Returnee

Another returnee, Summer Aku, revealed the criticism she faced after making her decision to return to Nigeria.

“When I shared my Japada story, some people said my village people had dragged me back to Nigeria. There was nothing people didn’t say,” she recalled.

Aku expressed frustration over being questioned about her return to the “land of her ancestors”.

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She noted that many Nigerians, especially those who had never lived abroad, often failed to understand such decisions, adding that explaining to them was a waste of time.

Now running a short-let/Airbnb business in Nigeria, Aku shared how her guests were often Nigerians returning to bury their loved ones.

“It saddens me that many never saw their parents alive, but come back just to bury them. They always express deep regret. Many people don’t realise this life is not a rehearsal; this is it. There’s no second chance to do most things right,” Aku said.

Despite the challenges in Nigeria, she emphasised the irreplaceable value of home.

“It’s unfortunate the problems we have in Nigeria, but truth be told, there is no place like home. Nowhere else allows you to fully be part of family weddings, birthdays, naming ceremonies, and graduations.”

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‘Nigeria not too bad’

Also speaking, a returnee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he recently returned from the United Kingdom after spending four years abroad.

He said after completing his studies, he wanted to pursue his PhD.

“But combining that with taking care of my children became overwhelming. That was when I began to seriously consider coming back home to Nigeria,” he added.

For him, the move abroad was meant to be a temporary step towards financial empowerment and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

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He said since returning home three weeks ago, he had joined his brother in managing a real estate business they had previously co-run while in the UK.

“The situation in Nigeria is not too bad. I already had a connection to a business here. Since coming back, I’ve been settling in quite well.”

He attributed the reasons many Nigerians were returning to cultural disconnection, harsh working conditions, emotional stress abroad, and inability to combine work with childcare.

“There are people who are coming back for some other reasons, such as the inability to cope with life over there; some are not so open to change in culture, food, lifestyle, and the weather. The kind of luxury that we enjoy in Nigeria is not over there.

“Emigration comes with a lot of stress; it comes with its problems. Some people do not have adequate information about life out there; they believe it is all rosy. But unfortunately, it is not; it is a lot of stress. Immigrants do a lot of odd jobs to pay bills, and this takes a toll on their mental health,” he said.

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Childcare support

Another returnee, who identified herself as Ifeoma on TikTok, said she relocated from Canada back to Nigeria with her family due to the difficulty of securing a job and finding adequate childcare support after the birth of her second child.

She said, “I was not working, and it was very frustrating. I was basically relying on the money from childcare and other benefits we could get to survive. My husband worked, but we had to source money from Nigeria to pay most of our bills. You can imagine how crazy that was, and it was hectic.”

Recently, a Nigerian lady, Jenny Jones, shared her decision to relocate to Nigeria after living and working in the US for some time.

Having worked in the US for several years, Jones cited burnout and lack of fulfillment as key reasons for her relocation.

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“I’m going to Nigeria because I feel I am burnt out in the US and I need a break,” she said, noting that she plans to launch a clothing line in Lagos.

For her, the move represents a chance to pursue entrepreneurship and regain control over her mental health.

“No amount of therapy or supplements can fix the constant mental battle if you are living in a place where you do not feel fulfilled. Do you see the glow up on my face just talking about the fact that I’m moving to Nigeria?” she explained.

The Idowu family, who lived in the US for 14 years before returning to Nigeria in 2024, echoed similar sentiments in a video shared on their YouTube channel two months ago.

Despite holding US citizenship, they said rising crime rates, cultural disconnects, and racism led them to leave.

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“America is not the way it used to be,” they said. “We wanted our kids to grow up with morals and without the fear of gun violence. The crime rate in America is skyrocketing.  Racism is there as well, especially against the blacks. That is why we returned to Nigeria.”

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Three Dead as Warri-Itakpe Train Derails in Delta, NRC Confirms

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The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed the death of three persons following the derailment of the Warri-Itakpe train in Agbor, Delta State.
The corporation disclosed that four coaches left the rail track during the incident, which occurred on Monday, June 8, 2026.
In a statement, the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said emergency response teams and other relevant authorities were immediately mobilised to the scene to manage the situation and provide assistance to affected passengers.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed a serious train accident involving the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor at Agbor, Delta State,” the statement said.
According to Opeifa, rescue and emergency response operations were activated immediately after the accident, and all passengers on board have since been accounted for.
“Sadly, three fatalities have been confirmed at this time,” he stated.
He added that relevant authorities are continuing to assess the full circumstances surrounding the incident, while support is being provided to injured and affected passengers.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and loved ones during this difficult time,” Opeifa said.
The NRC urged members of the public to rely only on verified information and official updates from the corporation as investigations into the cause of the derailment continue.

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Newlywed Woman Disappears After Discovering Husband Had Two Children

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A newly married Nigerian woman who was recently declared missing by her family in Abuja has reportedly left her matrimonial home after discovering that her husband allegedly had two children with different women.

The woman, from Mbabum Community in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, had been the subject of a public appeal by her family, who sought assistance in locating her after she allegedly left her husband’s residence in Abuja.

According to a statement attributed to a family representative, Hon. Goshi Peter, the woman married Goshi Bem in March 2026 but left her matrimonial home about two weeks ago and had not returned.

However, in an update shared on Saturday, June 6, 2026, a Facebook user, Tyom Alexander, claimed she had spoken with the woman by phone.

According to Alexander, the woman said she left her husband’s home after discovering that he had two children from different women, information she alleged was not disclosed to her before their marriage.

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“I have been able to speak with this woman through the phone number provided by the whistleblower,” Alexander wrote.

“She said her husband didn’t tell her that he had children before their marriage. She only discovered this after they relocated to Abuja.

“The first child is five years old, while the second child is two years old, both from different mothers.”

Alexander further claimed that the woman stated she was safe and still in Abuja, and reportedly warned her husband not to bother searching for her.

“According to her, the man should not bother looking for her as she is doing fine in Abuja,” Alexander added.

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“If this is true, then the man has disappointed me. I wait to hear the man’s side of the story.”

As of the time of filing this report, the husband’s response to the allegations had not been made public.

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Consultant Laments Fate Of 200,000 kms Of Nigerian Roads

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By Okey Maduforo Awka

The fate of Nigerian roads especially the highways appears to be under threat of this year’s rainy season following fears by professionals that the over 200,000 kilometers of roads may collapse by the end of the year .

Deepening this apprehension is the lack of maintenance of those roads which have yearly carried loafs above it’s capacity occasioned by heavy duty trucks and tankers .

Expressing these fears , Consultant Engineer to the Federal government Patience Aningo noted that if urgent steps are not taken this year’s rainy season would spell doom for motorists and other road users across the country.

“Without consistent enforcement of axle load limits, and steady maintenance of our federal highways there strong indications that the country is at the risk of loosing over 200,000 kilometers of roads ”

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“Roads require precision from proper compaction to correct layer thickness”

“By then, what could have been addressed with minor engineering challenges would become a huge cost of maintenance”

“The frustrations lies a deeper issue and the persistent failure of roads that should last far longer is compromised by laxity on the part of the authorities concerned”

“The outcomes are sometimes undermined by weak supervision, inconsistent material quality, and cost”

She observed that poor drainage system has also been the bane of the Federal roads in the country.

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“Nigeria has one of the largest road networks in Africa estimated at over 200,000 kilometers yet a
One major factor is inadequate drainage”

“Roads are not just paved surfaces; they are engineered drainage
systems, sealing cracks, and timely patching remains underutilized, despite its proven
underlying soil, and accelerates structural deterioration”

“In a country with intense seasonal rainfall, neglecting drainage is one
of the fastest ways to shorten a road’s lifespan.’

“Regulations must be enforced consistently to protect infrastructure investments”

“Similarly, the Abuja–Kaduna Highway remains a critical but vulnerable route, where
pavement distress and operational challenges continue to highlight the strain placed on key compromise
during construction directly reduces durability and increases long-term costs”

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“Drainage must be treated as a core design element, not an afterthought which affects Axle load against
what they were originally designed for”

“Heavy-duty trucks often overloaded introduce stresses that affect the roads ”

“Many Nigerian roads now carry traffic volumes and axle loads far beyond routes in the country
and despite ongoing reconstruction efforts, sections have deteriorated quickly ”

“When water is not properly managed, it penetrates the pavement layers, weakens the
This pattern is evident on major corridors such as the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, one of the busiest in the country “she stated.

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Enugu Govt Dismisses Viral UNN Attack Alert, Moves to Track Perpetrators

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Enugu Govt Dismisses Viral UNN Attack Alert, Moves to Track Perpetrator
The Enugu State Government has dismissed as false and misleading a viral social media post alleging an imminent terrorist attack on the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), assuring students, staff, and residents that there is no credible security threat to the institution.
The government described the post as the handiwork of criminal elements seeking to create panic, fear, and confusion within the university community and across the state.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malachy Agbo, said the government had taken note of the viral message warning of a possible attack by individuals described as terrorists and jihadists.
According to him, investigations indicate that the alarm is false and part of a deliberate attempt by criminal elements and their collaborators to undermine public confidence in the state’s security efforts.
Agbo recalled that similar false alerts had been circulated in the past concerning locations such as Holy Ghost, Obollo Afor, Opi, Nsukka, Gariki, Awgu, and other parts of the state. He noted that those behind previous misinformation campaigns often operated anonymously and recycled old videos to create the impression of ongoing attacks.
He added that many of the perpetrators of the earlier false alarms were eventually identified and apprehended by security agencies.
The commissioner disclosed that the state government is already working closely with security agencies to track down those responsible for the latest viral post and ensure they face the consequences of their actions.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to public safety, Agbo said the government had continued to invest heavily in modern security infrastructure and technology to strengthen security operations across the state.
He stressed that the protection of lives and property remains a top priority of the administration of Peter Mbah, noting that recent investments have significantly improved the capacity and responsiveness of security agencies operating in the state.
The government therefore urged members of the UNN community, residents of Nsukka, and the general public to remain calm and continue their lawful activities without fear, assuring them that adequate measures are in place to guarantee their safety.
It further reiterated its resolve to sustain efforts aimed at maintaining peace and security across Enugu State while taking decisive action against individuals who spread false information capable of causing public panic.

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METHODIST CHURCH HONOURS MONDAY DIAMOND ANI WITH “APOSTLE OF FAITH” AWARD

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The Methodist Church Nigeria has honoured the General Manager of the Enugu State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), Hon. Monday Diamond Ani, with the prestigious “Apostle of Faith Award” in recognition of his outstanding humanitarian services and contributions to community development.
The award was presented by the Methodist Diocese of Akegbe, Aninri and Awgu Archdiocese (AAA) under the leadership of Rt. Rev. C. Orji, the Methodist Bishop of AAA Diocese, Enugu.
According to the Church, the honour was bestowed on Hon. Ani in acknowledgment of his selfless commitment to community development, social welfare, and humanitarian service over the years. The Church noted that his contributions have transcended political considerations and have positively impacted countless lives across communities.
His consistent humanitarian interventions have earned him the popular title “Odoziobodo”, meaning “one who builds and restores communities.”
Hon. Ani is widely regarded as a passionate advocate for community service, driven by a desire to improve living standards and promote love, unity, and a sense of belonging among the people. His dedication reflects Christ’s teaching on the greatest commandment—love for God and love for one’s neighbour—placing service to humanity at the centre of purposeful living.
Due to his unavoidable absence, the award was received on his behalf and later presented to him at his office by Dr. Okechukwu Animba, Vice President (South-East) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
Responding to the honour, Hon. Ani expressed profound gratitude to Rt. Rev. C. Orji and the entire Methodist Diocese for recognising his humanitarian efforts. He prayed for God’s continued grace and strength to serve humanity and touch more lives through his work.
He also appreciated his principal, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, for appointing him to lead the CSDA, an agency charged with driving community interventions and sustainable development across the state.

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