Beekeeper1:
I’ve always been that person who says, “Naija till I die!” I grew up here, spent my whole life here, and I love this place like it’s part of my DNA. The food, the culture, the vibe—there’s just nothing like it. Even when my friends left for “greener pastures,” I was here, holding down the fort. “Who will remain to fix Naija if we all run away?” I’d joke.
But last month, my patriotism met its match.
It all started on a Monday morning—the kind that already feels like it’s out to get you before it even begins. I had a big presentation that day, one that could finally lead to a promotion. I got up extra early, suit pressed, slides perfected, and was out the door, determined to make a great impression.
Then NEPA happened. Halfway through my morning routine, the lights went out. No electricity. “No wahala,” I thought, scrambling to find my power bank for my phone and a flashlight to finish getting ready. I wasn’t going to let a little thing like no power stop me, right?
As I headed out, I noticed the fuel gauge blinking “empty.” Just my luck. I made a quick detour to the petrol station, only to be greeted by a line that looked like half of Lagos was there. An hour later, I was still in that line, watching the time tick by as my promotion dreams started slipping out of reach. But I finally got fuel, threw a thank you to the attendant, and sped off, hoping to make up for lost time.
And then I hit the traffic. Not today, please, I thought, gripping the steering wheel, whispering every “I cast and bind” prayer I knew. But Lagos traffic doesn’t answer prayers—it just swallows time, no matter how hard you beg.
I was almost at the office when I got stopped. You guessed it—police checkpoint. The officer took his sweet time inspecting my documents, dropping hints about “something for the weekend,” and I watched the last precious minutes melt away. By the time he finally waved me off, I’d missed my meeting.
When I finally got to the office, my boss didn’t even let me explain. She just gave me the look, that one that says, You had one job. I knew then that any hope for that promotion was gone.
That was it. I was drained, frustrated, and completely over it. It was like the universe was telling me, “Oga, it’s time to go.”
I don’t want to leave Naija; I really don’t. But sometimes, loving this place feels like being in a relationship with someone who just can’t get it together. You see the potential, the charm, the good heart underneath, but there’s always something—always some last-minute obstacle, some hidden clause that makes it so hard.
So yeah, I have a ‘japa’ plan now. I still love this place, and I always will. But maybe I need to love it from afar, with a little less “NEPA wahala” and a bit more stability. It’s a bittersweet plan, but hey, maybe one day I’ll come back, and Nigeria will be ready to meet me halfway.
Until then, my ‘japa’ plan is officially on standby. Because as much as I love this place, sometimes love just isn’t enough.
I used to be a great ambassador of "Nigeria will be great", and I did quite a lot in the youth ministry because I felt we should work on the youths to change their mindset. But by 2017, it was becoming glaring that I didn't fit in. I was the odd because I wanted to do things right. It came to a head in 2020 when my wife agreed with me and said 'oya, it is time for you to leave'.
To put this in perspective, I never out of Nigeria until then, even though I had unlimited opportunities. When I left was the first time I ever applied for a visa. Today, I am super grateful to God I left when I left, I don't know how my life would have been, even though my guys still tell me I would have found a way to survive.
princemaths:
yes Mr liar, you too should read what I wrote. A pro mechanic can never cost up to $1000 just to fix fuel pump.
You haven't been to the airport not to talk of knowing what a pro mechanic in the USA charges to replace a fuel pump, Google is your friend, I've attached scrrenshot for you in case you're too lazy to look it up......GET HELP!
You people that come up with the narrative of I'm staying back in Nigeria because I love Nigeria should stop. Op you decided to stay not because you love Nigeria more than those that left, you stayed because you the country still favored you.
Now that things look a little bit tricky, you want to leave. You guys should stop whining yourselves that you stayed or are staying because you love Nigeria more than those that left. You possibly have a decent or great job, and if that's the case, u may have had no need to move, na why you stay. No be any love.
givedemwotowoto:
FYI you don’t love Nigeria more than those who left before you. They just had more foresight
I dey always wonder when people whine themselves saying they will stay back in Nigeria because they love Nigeria, as if those that left hate Nigeria. Op stayed because he was comfortable, now that comfort is being threatened with the plenty anyhowness in the country, he is singing a different tune. Op was comfortable in his space and that made him resistant to change..e dey think say na love of country
Hemanwel: Before now, people saved money to japa. Later, people started selling landed property plus savings to japa. Now, people sell land, house plus their savings to japa with their family.
Very soon, selling one house will not be enough for you to japa (especially with your family).
In fact, in the nearest future, selling all your property wouldn't take you anywhere in the name of japa. Japa would then become exclusively for the elites/politicians. By then, we (the commoners) would all be trapped in the country, with no hope of seeking greener pastures.
Beekeeper1:
I’ve always been that person who says, “Naija till I die!” I grew up here, spent my whole life here, and I love this place like it’s part of my DNA. The food, the culture, the vibe—there’s just nothing like it.
Until then, my ‘japa’ plan is officially on standby. Because as much as I love this place, sometimes love just isn’t enough.
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Contemplating "japa" means that you are not patriotic.
Patriotism in Nigeria is defined as hopelessly wearing suffering as a badge of honour And to fulfill this patriotic act, you must vote for the most useless and uninspiring candidate in any election to keep the cycle in infinite loop.
You need to re-evaluate your circle of friendship if this is what your friends do. They are in an unhealthy competition with you and they have shown you the sign by mocking you but you think it is a joke. It is not. This is a sign of toxic relationship
Life is where we live at the moment and you should always pray for the Good Lord's favors wherever you are. You sound like someone who has traveled out, please do not compete with insecure people. Live your own life at its own time, it tomorrow, things change, live it and enjoy it but don't live a life of regret saying, "had I known". One thing I have learned on this earth is that, there is nothing special. I know it sounds crazy but we will always be unsatisfied and you can never find that satisfaction in man because they will always complain, compare and compete with you, hoping that YOU are unhappy where you are, with who you are and what you are.
Seek greener pastures but never be desperate. Anxiety is caused by us looking towards the future we don't live in yet, depression is caused by thinking too much about the past and what we can do in the future. You cannot control both past and present, so spend every moment of your life ENJOYING THE PRESENT. Take the gift of the PRESENT, NOW!!!
Relax. Don't take life too serious. I can bet you that was a normal guy to guy banter. I still laugh my guy back in Nigeria who refused to me japa when I was making plans to. Now, I am the one putting him through on what to do after he decided to Japa too. All the money he thought he was saving in the bank has lost so much value. If he calls me tomorrow, I will first yab him before I offer him any help. And he knows it's just guy to guy yabbing.
Try dey relax. Life is not that serious. You will be someone who will be easily offended. To follow you play go hard.
You haven't been to the airport not to talk of knowing what a pro mechanic in the USA charges to replace a fuel pump, Google is your friend, I've attached scrrenshot for you in case you're too lazy to look it up......GET HELP!
you have never price a visa how much more live in the US you're in Nigeria collecting 20k to defend apc. Prove me wrong and your receipt from the us paying $1000 for fuel replacement and I'll shut up for ever
were talking of price Replace fuel pump of a professional mechanic abd you're talking of fuel pump for nissan. IAM not a dullard like you.
look at your screenshots self it's there $106-230.
One thing I know for sure is that know what u want and pursue it with all ur energy, not minding what naysayers are saying. Right here on naira land, we were discussing on a thread on how to relocate to a saner clime and a nairalander was calling all of us on that thread unpatriotic Nigerians. He said if we all move out, who will fix things here? I was amazed when I finally realized that he posted all his comments from . I tried to make research about him, only to find out that he's been living in that country for over 4 years. That's a typical Nigerian for u.
Sometimes we just have to follow writeups with analytical mind. Everybody likes to look for where to put their blames . We should learn to hear and read articles but have different interpretations. Of course he was aware of the presentation he was to have. Now question
1. Why couldn't he get his dress or all that he needed ready, why pressing his cloth on the morning of the presentation.
2. Why couldn't get his fuel the day before , in stead of the morning of the presentation.
At least all of these on place would have possible given him the chance and opportunity to hit the road early enough before the police hit the road.
It simply means that his preparation was not just . Or is he a new person on Lagos that he does not or has never experienced such traffic in Lagos before.
He got what he prepared for ,for there is a saying that when you fail to prepare then of course you have prepared to fail. Finish
I've always said it; the easiest way you can have peace and keep your blood pressure in checks is to give up on Nigeria. If Nigeria gets better having given up on her, It's better. But hoping on her while you don't see sign of Nigeria getting better, that's where the danger lies to you and your health.
What goes bad yesterday is different from what will go bad tomorrow - It's from one thing going bad to another every minute.
We don't have the national resolve to do the right thing; it's always about the individual interest or personal gains. No national value.
Everyone want to get into the system to get their own share and leave every other person to suffer.
Look at the power situation that led to you missing promotional exam. It's an every day thing. Then grid collapsed and everywhere went dark.
They said there's an attack on transmission lines and 16 states in the north are without electricity for the past 9 days, we have not addressed that issue. We don't have any alternative to fall back on when situation goes out of plans. If we can't manage this kind of man-made situation, what do you think would be the situation if nature had put us in any space prone to earthquakes or natural disaster.
We're not prepared for anything, not even a pandemic. We're only ready to ready to steal and destroy.
It's a sad situation. As a Nigerian, I feel like a man whose only child is not doing well in life. It's constant sadness.
We're a confused nation.
See this demonic Buharist....
U just resurface after mocking GEJ, guess U were better off during Buhari's tenure..
The whole idea of "a national grid" serving 200 million people is a bad idea.For electricity to be steadily available in Nigeria, there should be many grids serving different areas and all segments of the industry from generation to transmission to distribution should be in private hands,government should only be involved as a regulator.The problem we have in Nigeria is that corrupt politicians and civil servants want government to be actively involved in every industry so that there will be more opportunities for them to steal money.
I've always said it; the easiest way you can have peace and keep your blood pressure in checks is to give up on Nigeria. If Nigeria gets better having given up on her, It's better. But hoping on her while you don't see sign of Nigeria getting better, that's where the danger lies to you and your health.
What goes bad yesterday is different from what will go bad tomorrow - It's from one thing going bad to another every minute.
We don't have the national resolve to do the right thing; it's always about the individual interest or personal gains. No national value.
Everyone want to get into the system to get their own share and leave every other person to suffer.
Look at the power situation that led to you missing promotional exam. It's an every day thing. Then grid collapsed and everywhere went dark.
They said there's an attack on transmission lines and 16 states in the north are without electricity for the past 9 days, we have not addressed that issue. We don't have any alternative to fall back on when situation goes out of plans. If we can't manage this kind of man-made situation, what do you think would be the situation if nature had put us in any space prone to earthquakes or natural disaster.
We're not prepared for anything, not even a pandemic. We're only ready to ready to steal and destroy.
It's a sad situation. As a Nigerian, I feel like a man whose only child is not doing well in life. It's constant sadness.
princemaths:
leave the iiodit he thinks it's Nigeria where security men earn 20k that cant feed them and be kissing feet of oga that he can give birth to.
In western world you can even earn more than your boss if you bring more value. Everyone earnings is almost the same gateman or boss.
It's not uncommon to see gateman 3k dollars, boss 4k.
A lots of people on security jobs abroad that built mansion back home... so forget oh
Security wey dey make around $1500 in two weeks with 2 jobs...
princemaths:
making cool money and spending all on feeding or fuel. Or making cool money and using it to pay ransom. My friend keep quiet. No reasonable person with money will continue to remain in Nigeria. That's why all your celebrities and politicians are ruling you from abroad. But you're here fooling yourself
That's your opinion. I am entitled to mine, and you sound childish telling someone to keep quiet.
My state governor is not ruling from abroad , he is always available.
Embassy will ask you to take COVID vaccine, so life worth more than taking what will end your good health you are enjoying now. Don't pay your way into slaughterhouse by yourself.
The OP has expressed a strong concern about why he now strongly considers Japa. Majority of us are in the same boat. But looking inward, there is more possibility to be a millionaire in Naija than abroad except you come from a very rich home.
A lot of people are working 2-3 jobs abroad to be able to pay their monthly bills. My woman schooled abroad but from her experience she’ll rather want us to work and make money here then go abroad only for vacation which I strongly subscribe to.
Though, there are basic amenities abroad and you get all the things you need but you must work your ass out to pay all your bills, meaning you hardly rest or have time for your family.
One thing I tell people is that you won't know how blessed you are until you go to the other side.
Calculate your moves and know what exactly you are doing before you take that leap.
360Master:
The OP has expressed a strong concern about why he now strongly considers Japa. Majority of us are in the same boat. But looking inward, there is more possibility to be a millionaire in Naija than abroad except you come from a very rich home.
A lot of people are working 2-3 jobs abroad to be able to pay their monthly bills. My woman schooled abroad but from her experience she’ll rather want us to work and make money here then go abroad only for vacation which I strongly subscribe to.
Though, there are basic amenities abroad and you get all the things you need but you must work your ass out to pay all your bills, meaning you hardly rest or have time for your family.
One thing I tell people is that you won't know how blessed you are until you go to the other side.
Calculate your moves and know what exactly you are doing before you take that leap.
God help you , Bro.
Let's be realistic guy. The person here has proven that you can spend maybe 30M to relocate abroad and make more within a space of two years abroad. Meanwhile, it took you 5-10 years to make such money in Nigeria. That's by the way anyway.
For a fresh graduate in Nigeria today, how can you begin your journey to independence? Where do you start from? Where are the jobs? How can you save at least 300k naira monthly? What can you achieve in 5 years from today?
It's not enough to do the analysis, but if you can talk about a clear path to success for graduates without jobs out there, I'll personally start a campaign to discourage youth migration from Nigeria.
Insecurity is another factor. You can imagine people who work so hard to live a good life and before you know what's happening, they're kidnapped and sometimes killed. So, it'll be nice if you can talk about a path to success and safety in Nigeria. I'll be waiting for your reply.
You are just a useless man, bruh, and a careless one at that.
Even abroad, you wont fare well, you will still meet disappointments, even more than this, so long as you are not intentional and foresightd. Nothing you said here apart from the police checkpoint, and delaying you makes sense.
1. You have an AP in Nigeria where NEPA is not constant, and you didn't plan for that eventuality? You no fit even buy even small I my neighbor generator (na u say u get car) that polytechnic and university students use—you say that NEPA disappointed you.
2. You have an important presentation, yet you woke up that same day with a blinking fuel tank showing empty. How useless can you be? What happened to filling up your tank the previous evening? You slept with an empty tank, thinking you just breezed into a Nigerian fuel station and got fuel.
3. You got there—long line. The black market is 1k5. You can't spare 6k to get on the black market for your promotion? Your future?
4. Then you don't know Lagos taffick happens everyday? What were you hoping for, exactly? that there would be no traffic?
If I was your BOss, Il sack you sef..you are not ready.Japa and go to Canada and see if you would fare any better
That's your opinion. I am entitled to mine, and you sound childish telling someone to keep quiet.
My state governor is not ruling from abroad , he is always available.
keep being naive. your president is in , vice sweede
Your governor has second citizenship in another country. Other celebrities too the same.
Theyre motivating you guys to bear suffering from a white man country.
Ordinary Benin has 24/7 light and water and whereas the entire country is in darkness.
princemaths:
you have never price a visa how much more live in the US you're in Nigeria collecting 20k to defend apc. Prove me wrong and your receipt from the us paying $1000 for fuel replacement and I'll shut up for ever
were talking of price Replace fuel pump of a professional mechanic abd you're talking of fuel pump for nissan. [b]IAM not a dullard [/b]like you.
look at your screenshots self it's there $106-230.
I can bet anything you don't have a vehicle of your own.....This is hillarious, you wan replace fuel pump without buying one? You're not a dullard INDEED
Beekeeper1:
I’ve always been that person who says, “Naija till I die!” I grew up here, spent my whole life here, and I love this place like it’s part of my DNA. The food, the culture, the vibe—there’s just nothing like it. Even when my friends left for “greener pastures,” I was here, holding down the fort. “Who will remain to fix Naija if we all run away?” I’d joke.
But last month, my patriotism met its match.
It all started on a Monday morning—the kind that already feels like it’s out to get you before it even begins. I had a big presentation that day, one that could finally lead to a promotion. I got up extra early, suit pressed, slides perfected, and was out the door, determined to make a great impression.
Then NEPA happened. Halfway through my morning routine, the lights went out. No electricity. “No wahala,” I thought, scrambling to find my power bank for my phone and a flashlight to finish getting ready. I wasn’t going to let a little thing like no power stop me, right?
As I headed out, I noticed the fuel gauge blinking “empty.” Just my luck. I made a quick detour to the petrol station, only to be greeted by a line that looked like half of Lagos was there. An hour later, I was still in that line, watching the time tick by as my promotion dreams started slipping out of reach. But I finally got fuel, threw a thank you to the attendant, and sped off, hoping to make up for lost time.
And then I hit the traffic. Not today, please, I thought, gripping the steering wheel, whispering every “I cast and bind” prayer I knew. But Lagos traffic doesn’t answer prayers—it just swallows time, no matter how hard you beg.
I was almost at the office when I got stopped. You guessed it—police checkpoint. The officer took his sweet time inspecting my documents, dropping hints about “something for the weekend,” and I watched the last precious minutes melt away. By the time he finally waved me off, I’d missed my meeting.
When I finally got to the office, my boss didn’t even let me explain. She just gave me the look, that one that says, You had one job. I knew then that any hope for that promotion was gone.
That was it. I was drained, frustrated, and completely over it. It was like the universe was telling me, “Oga, it’s time to go.”
I don’t want to leave Naija; I really don’t. But sometimes, loving this place feels like being in a relationship with someone who just can’t get it together. You see the potential, the charm, the good heart underneath, but there’s always something—always some last-minute obstacle, some hidden clause that makes it so hard.
So yeah, I have a ‘japa’ plan now. I still love this place, and I always will. But maybe I need to love it from afar, with a little less “NEPA wahala” and a bit more stability. It’s a bittersweet plan, but hey, maybe one day I’ll come back, and Nigeria will be ready to meet me halfway.
Until then, my ‘japa’ plan is officially on standby. Because as much as I love this place, sometimes love just isn’t enough.
Am curious, pls What is your japa plan in this economy?
And to fulfill this patriotic act, you must vote for the most useless and uninspiring candidate in any election to keep the cycle in infinite loop.
