The House of Representatives has unanimously voted against a motion seeking to declare as a national emergency the migration of young Nigerians to other countries.
The motion was moved by Philip Agbese (APC, Benue) during plenary on Thursday, June 15.
Moving the motion, Mr Agbese, a first-timer, said: “The House is concerned that the growing statistics of young Nigerians leaving Nigeria and securing permanent residence in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada portends a grave d@nger for our nation in many ways from economic to intellectual and social aspects.
The House is also concerned that the Nigerian population is made of two-thirds of persons under the age of 30 and a good number of these persons are already afflicted with what today is acceptably referred to as the ‘Japa Syndrome,’ as estimates indicate a staggering tens of thousands have relocated to the USA, Canada, South Africa and, even, Gambia over the last two years.
The House is worried that the eagerness to migrate to countries that offer hope seems to have a compelling influence. The House is also worried that those leaving Nigeria are not just the poor but middle class who possess skills/workforce, including bankers, lecturers, health care practitioners, doctors, nurses, and trained manpower, all of whom were trained in Nigeria and emigrating at a time when their services are needed to build a strong and vibrant economy in Nigeria.
The House is disturbed that if this scenario continues with our able minds, brains and skilled personnel leaving, Nigeria may fall into a grave cri§is in our critical sectors from education to healthcare, thereby making a bad situation worse.”
He, therefore, prayed that the House should urge the federal government to convene a national summit with key stakeholders to effectively address the “japa” syndrome.
He also prayed that the House should declare a state of emergency on the factors predisposing young Nigerians to give up on Nigeria in preference for other nations.
However, the members rejected the motion when the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, put it to vote.
