Ademola Rianat Ayomide

Imagine feeling confident after you gave your best answers in a job interview but then, they say those dreaded words “We will get back to you”. How your heart sinks as you trudge along your worn-out shoes, remembering your landlord awaits you at home. Oh! The realization that hits you when your salary has to be spent on another piled-up debt, you cleared your unhappiness in preparation for the usual trip to the mechanic shop only to be stuck in traffic. Frustrated, it hits you to seek greener pastures elsewhere, maybe Canada or America, anywhere, but certainly not Nigeria. What a good riddance to bad rubbish! you think. You believe these Western countries know your worth or at least that is what you hear people say. You think of developed countries as a “Utopia” – an idealized view of life in Western countries where people speak in a sneer-like accent “I wanna gonna” as perfect, but have you ever stopped to think that it rains everywhere?

Nigerians, immigrants at first, generally believe that those who had successfully migrated enjoy a better quality of life. They imagine good roads, good salaries, and other things that make life come softly. And ironically, the idea is that money grows on trees in these countries. According to Integral Human Development, In 2022, 82,773 persons with refugee status and 1,529 asylum seekers were registered in Nigeria. They mainly came from Cameroon (94.62%) and, to a lesser extent, from Niger (1.74%) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (0.80%). Some folks of immigrants traveled illegally. Traveling illegally refers to undocumented or unauthorized migration, which can be dangerous and against the law. Without being sensitized, people migrate through different means because they are unfamiliar with legal immigration processes. More than half of them did not have passports, a minimum requirement for safe and legal international migration. They knew, however, that it was possible to migrate illegally, or, as they say in Nigeria, “Travelling to Europe by road”. Most of them knew someone who had left the country illegally, using forged travel documents, or the services of human traffickers or smugglers. People who travel illegally may face various challenges and risks. These can include dangers during the journey, such as human trafficking, exploitation, or physical harm. Also, they may face legal consequences, including deportation or being unable to access basic services and rights in these ideal countries.

Many are the plights of Nigerians in the diaspora. It takes time to live in these countries before they know of their imperfections. Then, they become cognizant of what it takes to be an alien in another man’s country, where their do and don’t make them more miserable than that of their fatherland. They might find themselves longing for home when White people mock their accent at every failed attempt to pronounce “Schwarzenegger” or when their boss’s child makes fun of them for struggling with the air conditioner. Can you imagine the miles they run looking for gentiles while feeling the urgency of nature’s call? What they can easily do in Nigeria without restriction.

Despite all the exorbitant amount spent to travel out, They are compelled to study a 4-5 months course for an unspeakable job like cleaning, working as a nanny, janitoring, and all other job varieties. All these are made available for “greener grass ” seekers and they take it up honorably in these designated countries. However, when these same job opportunities are offered in their own country, they consider it an insult to their personality. How many had spent a fortune on the adventure to “Japa”_relocating from Nigeria? What they ran from in Nigeria is now preserved in guise in White men’s countries.

In an interview on a radio show, Shola shared his perspective on migration. He talked about how he took on odd jobs to search for better opportunities abroad. Fortunately, he obtained a visa and spent 10 years living in a miserable state overseas, afraid to return to Nigeria as a failure. Eventually, he realized that he could no longer bear the misery and decided to come back to his homeland. After all, your home is still your birthright. One would not blame Shola for exploring another route, but rather for heaping his hope on making it elsewhere.

Life in exile is not always easy for Nigerians living abroad. They often face segregation, deprivation, racism, and many other challenges. However, despite these difficulties, many choose to stay for various reasons. Firstly, there is the shame of returning and having to fit into the life they left behind. Secondly, they believe they can still improve their living conditions. Most of these Nigerians keep their hardships hidden, presenting a facade of a good life in exile. They enjoy the admiration of people back home who are mesmerized by their fake accent, which serves as a souvenir for their suffering. It is important to remember that what works for some people may not work for everyone and the reality is that success abroad does not guarantee the same for everyone. You let go of everything to start afresh in a place that knows not your nobility nor dignity. It is a big decision and it is understandable why people consider it but it is essential to know no place is utopia.

Even with the little amount of money left after paying off your debt, you can still make it through the month. If you had stayed in Nigeria, you might have found a well-paid job. For sure, no matter how long the traffic lasts, the road will eventually clear up. Rome is not built in a day. With a positive mindset, you can persevere against all odds. Your birthplace is your birthright so Dear Nigerians, embrace and celebrate its uniqueness.