Humans are aspirational by nature, hence we migrate. That a country’s socioeconomics are comparably excellent still does not prevent her people from migration. ‘We are humans; we like to dey wakawaka.’
Yet, a person’s aspiration to migrate should be tempered with caution. Tact and care cannot be overemphasized on this matter. It is a mismatch that has led 11 Ghanaians who allegedly spent GH₵ 40,000 each in their bid to travel to Canada and Spain only to end up in Nigeria. It took the efforts of Nigeria Police, Ogun State Command to rescue them in Sagamu where they were held hostage.
‘Ghana is not good, Nigeria is not good’, a youth will argue but GH₵ 40,000 (about NGN 4.5 Million or USD 3400) is considerable if you would decide to stay and build gradually in either country. That same amount will be grossly inadequate to fund a vacation to either Canada or Spain. But many youths will get caught in the Japa boobytrap.
I could imagine it must have taken time, hard work and sweat for these 11 or their families to raise the GH₵ 40,000. Now, see where their money has ended. How do they return home to say ‘I am sorry I was sold a dummy’ is another side of the story that makes the Japa boobytrap a deep-seated social issue for Africans. Please Japa but With Your Sense Intact!
#YeahMomentsWithYO!