The House of Representatives has stepped down a motion seeking to stop young Nigerians from leaving the country in search of greener pastures, popularly known as Japa Syndrome.
This was sequel to the presentation of a motion of urgent national importance by a member from Benue state, Phillips Agbese, on the urgent need to declare emigration of young Nigerians Abroad a National emergency.
Mr Agbese stated that there was a 40% 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 reported that international emigration from Nigeria in 2020 totaled 1.7million.
Mr Agbese quoted a recent Report by the African polling Institute indicating that 69% of young people would opt to relocate abroad if given the chance or if the opportunity presented itself.
According to him, those leaving the country are not just the poor but also the middle class who possess skills, including Bankers, Lecturers, Health care practitioners, Doctors, Nurses and other trained manpower – all of whom were trained in Nigeria.
But speaking against the motion, a member from Katsina state, Sada Soli, argued that the motion contravened the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, which provides that it’s within the rights of a Nigerian, if he is qualified, normal and has all the grant rights, to move to anywhere he wants.
For a member from Borno state, Ahmed Jaha, the bill does not seek to stop young Nigerians from relocating abroad, but addresses the urgent need to eliminate the factors causing the exodus.
After other contributions, the speaker, Tajuddeen Abbas put the motion to a voice vote, during which a majority of the members voted to step it down.
