The current favorite slang, Japa has become one of the most debated decisions for many Nigerian youths. At its core, Japa is about migration: leaving Nigeria for another country in the hope of a better standard of living, opportunity and stability. Japa is a very emotional and complex concept. It involves hope, despair, sacrifice, loss, ambition, and sometimes sheer despair. The decision is rarely just about money or jobs. It affects family, identity, mental health and long-term plans.
This article looks at the pros and cons of Japa, providing a useful framework to help you align your decisions with your values, goals, and circumstances.
Why should you choose Japan?
1. Better economic and career opportunities
Perhaps JAPA’s strongest pull factor is access to a broader, more structured and higher paying job market opportunity. Most developed countries will provide an environment where career progression is assured, working conditions are in place, and salaries are based on stable economies. Years of expertise and accumulation in fields such as medicine, technology, engineering, and finance can provide opportunities for professional development that are far better than you could easily get back home.
The stability of foreign earnings will allow dollars, pounds or other currencies to convert into high value assets in Nigeria if managed wisely. A good number of Nigerians have thus built wealth in Nigeria, either as legacies to leave behind for relatives or as a retirement plan.
2. Improving the quality of life
When you move abroad, the lifestyle changes are almost instantaneous. Electricity, clean water, efficient public transport system, and government services are always available for ease of living. Small amenities, from working internet access to good infrastructure, make life easier and more predictable.
Parks, libraries, recreation areas, and other public spaces create balance. Even simple things like renewing documents, getting medical help, or traveling become easy and enjoyable.
Health is a major driver when it comes to migration. In developed countries, health care systems were developed to provide timely services with health care facilities and professionals. When you relocate, you get regulated hospitals, emergency and health care benefits that reduce future health risks.
Security provides these systems free from the fear of any unexpected medical bills or poor quality care. For families, especially those with children, this really contributes to the sense of security that affordable healthcare brings with the decision to relocate.
4. Better security and predictable governance
Another strong advantage of JAPA is security. Living in a safe environment with low crime rates, reasonable policies, and where the law system works provides an unassailable kind of peace. Being able to move around freely at night or being able to trust the system to work the way it’s supposed to work is also a huge contributor to mental health.
In a stable environment with reliable government institutions, long-term planning becomes possible. Such a forecast gives you the option to focus on pursuing a career, raising a family, and focusing on long-term dreams, without the constant worry of risking life and property.
5. Exposure, growth and international opportunities
Another good thing about Japa is the opportunity for some international exposure. Living abroad broadens your perspective and ability to engage with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. You start seeing things from new angles: work, relationships, governance and self-development.
Many immigrants discover talents they didn’t even know they had simply because of an environment that thrives on creativity and diversity. Access to global networks, international training, and cultural experience offer a foundation for further professional and personal growth.
6. Opportunities for children
Immigrant parents think about their children when they migrate. Studying abroad offers better resources, a stable curriculum, exposure to advanced learning tools, and a better teacher-to-student ratio. It provides an environment where children express themselves freely, think critically and develop self-confidence.
Beyond education, children benefit from safe communities, supportive social structures and global opportunities as they develop.
7. Better protection from stable currency and wealth
Earnings in dollars, euros or pounds provide long-term financial benefits to expatriates. Foreign currencies are valued in ways that local currencies struggle to match. Over time, it allows you to build assets, invest strategically and protect your financial future.
The stability of foreign financial systems, from banking to investment tools, gives a sense of security that feels good, especially when you think about global or national economic fluctuations.
Why is it better to live in Nigeria?
1. Emotional and cultural security
Migration really takes an emotional toll. When you decide to leave, you leave behind familiar faces with whom you’ve shared jokes, local foods, languages, or just a sense of belonging to your era. When you leave Nigeria, you are absent from the lives of your loved ones and important events in their lives: weddings, births, funerals and more.
Loneliness is the most common problem faced by immigrants. You don’t appreciate the importance of being around your loved ones until you’re thousands of miles away. Even if you are surrounded by people when you move, you will still feel disconnected from your culture and roots. As you try to blend and assimilate into a new environment, many aspects of your roots are forgotten: culture, language and traditions.
Children growing up abroad may find it difficult to understand their heritage or communicate with older relatives. Cultural flux creates a sense of being between two worlds: never really belonging to either.
2. High cost of relocation
There is great financial preparation for moving abroad. Expenses like visa fees, airfare, documents, proof of funds, apartment deposits, local transportation, and license processing can kill your savings in no time, not to mention that settling is a long process in itself, and therefore expensive.
Most of the time, an immigrant can go months without a steady stream of income. Those who repeat exams, validate credentials, or more generally feel financially stressed during their first years abroad.
3. Career failures and unemployment abroad
In most cases, professional recognition is neither automatic nor guaranteed. You may have to start at levels below your education, skills, and experience until you meet the licensing requirements in the country you move to. Doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, academics, accountants etc. may be forced to start from scratch.
Such adjustments can be frustrating and discouraging for those leaving behind more lucrative careers in Nigeria. “Initiation” weighs heavily on one’s self-esteem.
4. Discrimination and systemic barriers abroad
Discrimination of race, nationality, or accent is often the fate of immigrants. Fighting these obstacles requires emotional resilience. Although laws are often in place to protect victims, prejudice can prevent their access to promotions or opportunities.
You may find yourself needing to work extra hard to prove your worth while simultaneously coping with the stress of unfamiliar territory and cultural expectations.
5. Low cost of living in Nigeria compared to abroad
You can earn higher abroad than in Nigeria, but the cost of living abroad is significantly higher. Almost the entire salary goes to rent, transportation, child care, health care (in some countries), taxes, and groceries. This high cost of living eats into many of the financial cushions you may have had to migrate.
6. Increased family pressure and expectations when you are abroad
Once you move out of Nigeria, family expectations increase. Relatives may think that all your money is unlimited just because you are abroad. This can translate into pressure to send money home regularly, even when your finances don’t line up.
The emotional burden of being seen as the family “hope” can be quite difficult to bear.
7. Uncertainty in the Immigration and Legal Process
Immigration regulations come with a lot of ambiguity. A shroud of uncertainty remains, with questions about visa delays, work permits, residency requirements, and waiting in line for permanent status. For some, this uncertainty overshadows everything that can be celebrated about the prospect of living abroad.
The result
After examining the benefits of JAPA against living in Nigeria, the conclusion is clear: JAPA is not the top but one side of the coin. It offers opportunities that are rarely found in Nigeria and results in sacrifices that many people are not willing to make.
Some people actually blossom when they cross the border because systems abroad support their ambitions. Others have considered the emotional cost too much, compared to what they might gain. Many have made a compromise: leave the country for a limited time for exposure and return to use it in the development of Nigeria. The decision you make will depend on your values, character, readiness, family circumstances and vision for the long term.