Nigeria Japa Migration Phenomenon and the Seductiveness of the United Kingdom;

Umoh Uwem Samuel, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech
Gbadebo Oyewo Gbemisola, Reedemer University

The paper examines the mass migration of Nigerians to the United Kingdom for survival and better life. Recently, Many Nigerians left, and more are planning to leave the country in search of a better future abroad, triggered by the search for greener pastures and better life. The desperation and craving to travel abroad in Nigeria are captured by the "Japa," phenomenon which means "flee" in the Yoruba language. The increasing number of Nigerians intending to travel is evidenced by 1,899,683 passports issued by the Nigeria immigration service (NIS) in 2022, the highest in a single year and the last seven years. In the same tone, the euphoria to travel abroad is captured in Nigerian hip hop songs 'Japa,' 'Japa books,' and experiences of Nigerian migrants in the UK. Given this context, the paper examines the trajectory of Nigerian graduates and skilled migrants who resign from their jobs] who 'Japa' to the UK for a Master’s degree to better their lives and benefit from the seductiveness of the UK two-year postgraduate visa. The paper questions whether the UK's grass is greener as portrayed. The paper also investigate the cultural adaptations of the Nigerian immigrants in the UK. Based on an online survey with thirty participants on social media and internet website interviews, selected Nigerian books and songs of Nigerian hip-hop singers, the paper interrogates the representation of the 'Japa' migration phenomenon, migration trajectory, strategies, and career plans of Nigerian migrants in the UK. The paper is underpinned by Massey et al.'s (1987) cumulative causation theory to highlight how Nigerian migrants gain migratory experience and become a source of 'migratory social capital' for other people from the home country. Preliminary findings indicate that social network facilitates migration because of the cumulative causation of migration.

No extended abstract or paper available

 Presented in Session 19. Global Migrations