JAPA

Humans are not created to be stationary, immobile and confined to a single environment. Human beings are by nature transient, locomotive and migratory. This is why one of the earliest human correctional methods is imprisonment. All peoples of the earth recognize the fundamentality of the right to movement as it determines largely one’s survival and livelihood. Manna don’t fall from heaven anymore, and when they did, those who ate them were nevertheless still required to go out and pack enough for a meal. 

It is therefore not surprising that people migrate from one land to another for quite different reasons. Some for work; some for security; some for education; some for resources and industry, some for tourism; some for research; and many more other reasons. In all, humans emigrate to greener pastures. A greener pasture connotes a place that can afford what one wants and desires in life without unblissful labour. It is not only strictly connected to economics but every index of a favourable habitation and conduciveness.  

“Japa” is a Yoruba phraseological slang coined from two words or made up of two syllables: “Ja” which transliterates as “Move, or Break” and “Pa” which means “Away or Off”. So, generally speaking, it is a Nigerian concept of taking-off forcefully or emigrating by all means necessary from the shores of Nigeria to a country believed to be doing better in terms of security (of lives, properties and food), welfarism, hospitality, education, economy etc. 

A NECESSITY OR CHOICE?

There is a popular cliché in Nigeria that “a wall gecko in Nigeria cannot become a lizard even in the United Kingdom.”  In other words, regardless of the environment, if one doesn’t have the capacity to do well where they are, they are not likely going to do well in their dreamland too. Is the above statement true? Are there no places where the governments have developed a working system for quicker and easier growths through aids, grants, long term loans, facilities and special programmes?

Some people actually believe that there are some climes where things are so well arranged and organized such that not only the psychologies of emigrants naturally shift to positivity but also the physical features through good foods, sporting facilities, affordable clothing, and other social welfare packages. For instance, they observed that some Africans who though grew up in environments not so clean or who are not use to litter bins, almost readily are compliant once they travel abroad.

However, whether people travel out of their countries as a result of necessity or by choice, the above listed key indices of good living are instrumental to migration and should never be down played by any good government and in their absence, governments have no moral right whatsoever to restrain their citizens who have the means to relocate from doing so, even where such decision becomes a national menace. All human beings deserve good life and should have access to the basic amenities of life. 

DESPERATION

Having said that, there is however an uncontrollable surge and desperation to “japa” which makes the emigrants cheap preys to mischievous travel agents. In Nigeria and in Africa at large, relocating abroad is costly. The countries relocating to and from as well as the numbers of people and purpose among others determine the cost. To relocate to any part of Europe for instance from Nigeria range from four million Naira to six million Naira for individuals, or from ten million Naira to twenty million Naira for families. Although, one is eager to ask if a family is buoyant enough to afford a family VISA, (although majority put down all their properties for sale to raise such huge amount), why not just keep at such business or job and grow it to give more profits?

Some even ask whether relocating abroad is worth it and should be an option to sell all for to achieve whereas, often times where it fails, such family has nothing else to fall back upon? However, the story of those who emigrated and after one year doubled their wealth convinced Nigerians that theirs won’t be any different and in order not to be unfortunate, get themselves fortified spiritually. Furthermore, a lot of those who travel really don’t have concrete plans about the journey, oftentimes they seek to rediscover themselves in foreign lands and do not get to hit the ground running once they arrive, hence, the sad stories we occasionally hear about how professionals with great and blossoming careers in Nigeria end up being cleaners in supermarkets and stores abroad or do other odd jobs. Fair enough, nevertheless, owing to the poor exchange rate of Naira to dollar, they still lead better lives than many average families in Nigeria, who still call them for aids and alms, but in all, they sacrifice dignity on the altar of hard labour. 

Another incidence of desperation to travel and make it abroad is the illegal, unfriendly and highly dangerous means through which some become immigrants. Few years ago, one junior of mine in the university lost his live while trying to relocate to America through an Algerian or Moroccan desert. Some years ago, two Nigerian voyagers were thrown into the sea once discovered aboard a Chinese ship where they were hiding.

A Nigerian teenager once made his way to an airport, discretely, lodged himself in the wheel of the airplane and got folded in when the plane took off. Nigerians understand the cheaper the voyage; the more dangerous, but are too desperate to break-off from their root leaving no stone unturned.   In the end, whether or not japa is a necessity occasioned by unfriendly circumstances or a choice birthed from a carefully thought-out plan, everything boils down to one’s belief system. If for instance, I believe I can do well in my country and I diligently work towards it and live in a relatively more secure part of the country, then I can.  Afterall, there is a saying that those who say they can and those who say they can not are both correct.

THE AGENT BEASTS OF PREY

The voyagers desperations have overtime evolved an industry of beastly and mischievous travel agents in Nigeria such that now, any one rich enough to rent an office space with a little branding and study of geography, demography, arts, travel and tourism or has been unfortunate and consistently so, long enough to have been defrauded by other travel agents can now perpetrate same on other persons to recoup his losses. It is also trendy now that those who get to relocate abroad also quickly become travel agents not out of kindheartedness or goodwill to share their wealth of experience, but rather for profitability. As a lawyer, other than divorce, indebtedness and land cases, the fourth most frequent briefs I get are cases of fraudulent travel agents who scoop huge funds illegally from ignorant Nigerians often times having premeditatedly asked them to sign some contracts which jeopardize them from recovering their money. 

Unfortunately, except one is extremely resolute, the fate of anyone who decides not to join the bandwagon of voyagers and terrible traveling agents of darkness in Nigeria is not a palatable one as survival instinct dictates the actions of many in their mildest form and then engage in all sort of crimes in their wildest form. Moreso, the world we live in is shifting and becoming volatile, and it is only a matter of time before traveling becomes a house-hold thing, because Nigerians are never left behind in doings. The era of “ it is not easy at all here” that diasporans tell Nigerians at home is gone. Nigerians at home also want it ‘uneasy’ for them too the same way it is not easy for the diasporans and yet keep buying houses in Lekki and Maitama. We all must japa albeit with concrete plans.