The House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a motion seeking to declare the emigration of young Nigerians abroad, known as the "Japa" syndrome, as a national emergency. This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Philip Agbese (APC-Benue), who was based in the United Kingdom before becoming a lawmaker in Nigeria during plenary. Presenting the motion, Agbese referenced statistics from the Nigerian Economic Summit, which showed a growing number of young Nigerians relocating abroad. According to recent reports by the African Polling Institute, 69 percent of young people would choose to relocate if given the opportunity. The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs reported a 40 percent increase in the number of young Nigerians leaving the country compared to 2019, with international emigration from Nigeria totaling 1.7 million in 2020, a significant rise from 990,000 in 2010. Agbese highlighted the potential dangers for Nigeria in terms of economic, intellectual, and social aspects due to the increasing number of young Nigerians securing permanent residence in the UK, USA, and Canada. When subjected to a vote, the motion was unanimously rejected by the lawmakers.Â
