First Lady claims Nigerians are moving abroad to accept jobs they previously declined in their home country

In an interview with Arise TV, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, expressed her concern about Nigerians leaving their home country for more prosperous nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada in search of jobs they would not do back home. She emphasized that many Nigerians with a good educational background end up taking menial jobs, such as cab driving, abroad, leaving their dependents behind in Nigeria.

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Tinubu highlighted the importance of Nigerians supporting and assisting each other instead of indulging in extravagant leisure activities. She emphasized that the government alone cannot solve all the problems and that it is crucial for Nigerians to come together and help one another.

According to the Migration Information Data Analysis System (MIDAS), a total of 3,679,496 people have left Nigeria in the past two years. Out of this number, approximately 2,115,139 people left in 2022, and 1,574,357 people left between January and September 31, 2023.

The First Lady also mentioned the phenomenon of Nigerians saying they are going to “Japa” (a slang term for leaving the country) and questioned the type of work they would do abroad that they refuse to do in Nigeria, where they have loved ones. She pointed out that despite their education, some Nigerians end up driving cabs in foreign countries but would not do the same in their home country.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to redirect their resources towards helping their neighbors and supporting each other until the country can stand on its own feet. She emphasized the need for social development and investment in people who truly need it, while acknowledging that poverty will always exist in the land, as mentioned in the Bible.