The House of Representatives has rejected a motion aimed at addressing the migration of Nigerians to other countries in search of a better life.
The motion presented by Representative Philip Agbese (APC-Benue) looked to declare the emigration of young Nigerians, known as the "Japa" syndrome, a national emergency.
Agbese highlighted statistics from the Nigerian Economic Summit, which indicated a concerning rise in the number of young Nigerians relocating abroad.
He referred to reports by the African Polling Institute, which suggested that 69 percent of young people would choose to relocate if given the opportunity.
Furthermore, he noted that the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) reported a 40 percent increase in the number of young Nigerians leaving the country compared to figures from 2019.
According to the UN DESA, the total international emigration from Nigeria in 2020 reached 1.7 million, a significant rise from 990,000 in 2010.
Agbese emphasized that the increasing trend of young Nigerians securing permanent residence in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and other countries poses significant risks to Nigeria's economy, intellectual capital, and social fabric.
When the Speaker of the House, Representative Abbas, put the motion to a vote, it was unanimously rejected by the lawmakers, as reported by NAN.
