Hello guys,
I hope the new year is treating you well thus far. Firstly, I must apologize for being MIA for the past couple of days. Sadly, I was down with travelers diarrhea after returning from a trip to Dubai with my family.
I feel much better now and to be honest, I am kind of glad nature assisted as a purgative for all the “ijekuje” I ate whilst abroad.
Obviously, my trip is what inspired today’s post because it reminded me of when I was much younger and people would apply for an American Visa Lottery and literally spend their last in hopes of going to the land of “greener pastures” where they ignorantly believe manner falls from heaven.
It was and still is a bad story because we presently still have horrendous cases where people die trying to cross the Sahara desert in order to get into Europe or even go to the extent of selling their kidney just to raise enough money to pay for their ticket and visa.
Bear in mind that a large chunk of these people probably do not even have family, friends or even acquaintances in this so called “greener pastures” which they are clamoring to go to. So they most likely have no means of survival whatsoever when they successfully arrive but for whatever reason, they assume life abroad (outside Nigeria) should automatically be better than life in Nigeria. Even if it means being illegal in a foreign country.
You have cases where some Nigerians who finally made it into the foreign country they fought so hard to get into would be working miniature jobs like washing plates, mortuary attendants, cleaning toilets and what have you all to make ends meet. These are the kind of jobs they would never in their wildest dreams consider to do if they were living in Nigeria.
Afterwards, they would return to Nigeria and wear their heads high as big boys and girls who live “abroad”. Smh!
Luckily, I have had the opportunity to live in and out of Nigeria and I hereby say unequivocally, I WOULD NEVER PERMANENTLY RESIDE OUTSIDE NIGERIA. Not even if I was paid to. Except Paris of course as I have always had a thing for the French and it has kind of always been my dream 😉
On a more serious note, life here in Nigeria is so much easier than life abroad. Granted, it has its disadvantages but I would never trade the typical Nigerian lifestyle or Nigerian food for the regulated, overly organized and structured white man way of doing things.
This might mean that I am comfortable with the Nigeria of today but I guess it has become a bitter-sweet habit that spells HOME.
Let’s even forget about the over-regulation of the Western world and ask ourselves these questions. Is life really easier abroad? Are jobs readily available? Are poor people extinct abroad? Are there problem in Nigeria that do not exist abroad (poverty, terrorism, corruption, etc)?
If the answer to any of the questions above is NO then I ask again, what is the big deal with living abroad aside from the “efisi” that’s attached to it?
Granted, the education system is a lot better which is why I would STUDY abroad but not LIVE there. I would visit two, three and maybe ten times a year if I can but I still would never permanently reside any place other than Nigeria.
Simply put, I would much rather be a king in my village and take crap from my own people than slave for an oyibo. Or like my Nigerian brothers and sisters call them, CHINKO!
Why do you think people clamor to live abroad?
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-OUR
A Loco Viva Voce 
Exchange rate my sister
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I’m not sure what you mean by exchange rate PP but I’m sure the difference in exchange rate plays a huge role in why people assume life is easier outside Nigeria
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I have no plans of living permanently outside Nigeria, it’s just not for me. There are many other people who believe this.
That said, Nigeria is frustrating in so many ways. The West has corruption and poverty, but let’s not kid ourselves, Nigeria has been eaten by these things and our country is falling apart. I don’t blame anyone who wants to find a better, saner life outside.
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I agree with you that life in Nigeria is becoming unbearable but it’s a different thing if manner actually falls from heaven in these countries they are supposedly running to.
Rather, they go there to wash plates and drive cabs. I know it probably pays much more than washing plates in 9ja but personally, I’d rather serve my countryman than any oyibo.
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Well you’re right people do think life abroad is always rosy and they totally ignore the difficulties. I was home for Christmas and can’t wait to visit again, but that’s just for visit. If I had a great financial opportunity, there’s an 80% chance I’ll take it. 10% is that I’ll be giving up access to good healthcare. Health care in Nigeria is a joke. Not just the institution but the fact that it’s pay before service most times. I know of people that die while raising money for surgery. That is just sickening. The other 10% is that there’s no clear path for someone who comes from nothing to be successful in Nigeria. Basically unless you’re lucky or have rich parents you’ll suffer. No scholarships so parents don’t die giving their child an education. No part time jobs for young folks that want to make money and relieve their parents financial burden while in school. Nigeria is lawless country and suits the rich. As much as I miss miss miss the food, culture, family and friends, short of an opportunity to be some big shot in Nigeria, I’ll stay where I am.
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That’s precisely what I feel these said people need to understand, life is actually not rosy abroad. As a matter of fact, you need to be very educated to be successful.
Correct me if I’m wrong but professional degrees like doctors, lawyers, business majors etc pay a lot better than non professional degrees. so if you studied music and you’re trying to ge ge job and make it “abroad”, good luck to you.
But it’s the idea that the second you cross immigration into another country then automatically you get a job and become a millionaire. That’s what I don’t understand.
You’re absolutely right btw, the healthcare, education and a lot of other systems abroad are a lot better than Nigeria’s but then what can we do rather than pray that we or our loved ones never come down with anything that would lead us to the hospital. May God help us!
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The idea and zeal of living abroad for Nigerians is over over over rated. I love my country and I will make it here. Beside I missed you Alocovivacoe P.S I can’t pronounce it still.
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Awww.. I must apologise again for going MIA. I can assure you that from next week, everything will be back on schedule. I’m still in recovery mode but I’ll be better.
And don’t worry, potato, potata, all na POTATO! As long as you know the URL, the pronunciation will follow in due time 😀
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I just ran across this and I’m amazed anyone can make such a silly statement that Nigerians abroad are generally dishwashers and mortuary attendants.
Wow. You need to visit the Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing Board websites of various States in the USA and put a search starting with AD or ONY and see how many Nigerian names come up.
Anyway I think you were just trying to be provocative and generate traffic. There’s better ways.
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