By Christiana Ekpa
The Nigerian House of Representatives, on Thursday, rejected a motion seeking to address incessant migration of Nigerian youths, especially professionals who have distinguished themselves in various disciplines, from the country, to get permanent residences in foreign countries.
A Member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, Comrade Philip Agbese, had moved a motion on the floor, urging his colleagues to support and pass resolutions, to curtail what he described as ‘JAPA syndrome’.
Rep. Dennis Idahosa representing Ovia Federal Constituency of Edo State, seconded the motion and urged Members to support it.
While leading a debate on the motion, Agbese expressed great concern that, “the growing statistics of young Nigerians leaving Nigeria and securing permanent residence in the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada portends a grave danger for our nation in many ways from economic to intellectual and social aspects.
“Also concerned that the Nigerian population is made of two-thirds of persons under the age of 30 and a
good number of these persons are already afflicted with what today is acceptably referred to as the “JAPA SYNDROME”, as estimates indicate a staggering tens of thousands have relocated to the USA, Canada, South Africa, and even Gambia over the last two years”.
The young and vibrant Lawmaker contended that, “those leaving Nigeria are not just the poor but middle class who possess skills and workforce, including Bankers, Lecturers, Health care practitioners, Doctors, Nurses, trained
manpower, all of whom were trained in Nigeria and emigrating at a time when their services are needed to build a strong and vibrant economy in Nigeria”.
Agbese stressed that, “if this scenario continues with our able minds, brains and skilled personnel leaving, Nigeria may fall into grave crisis in our critical sectors, from education to healthcare, thereby making a bad situation worse”.
In opposing the motion, Reps Sada Soli (Katsina State) raised a point of order that the motion was in contradiction of the constitutional rights of citizens to freely move in and out of the country.
Reps Ahmadu Jaha (Borno State), however, countered Rep. Soli, saying it was a good motion that needed to be supported overwhelmingly.
According to Jaha, the motion only sought to address fundamental issues which would make Nigeria more habitable for all citizens, particularly, professionals, stressing that it would encourage Doctors, Nurses, Engineers and other Professionals to find Nigeria more conducive.
When the question was eventually pulled by the Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, for the House to urge the Federal Government to convene a national summit with key stakeholders to “effectively address the JAPA SYNDROME” and declare a state of emergency on the syndrome; the Lawmakers voted against the motion.
When contacted after the plenary, Rep. Agbese expressed happiness that the motion enjoyed the attention of the whole House, vowing to re-worked the motion at a later date for re-presentation.
While commending Speaker Abbas for entertaining all opinions on the motion, Agbese said Members too were generally happy the way the entire proceeding went, as they were all carried along.
