₦airaland Forum

casualobserver:
In all you wrote there (I couldn’t read it all) all I saw is that the educated Nigerian graduate who refused to use his intellect to see how he can turn a relative mundane occupation in Nigeria like gardening into a corporate business in Nigeria will eventually after washing bottoms and cutting lawns ultimately doing the same thing there even if eventually as a business.

Why go through the hassle when you have the capital to start in Nigeria? 90% of graduates who japa who japa because they can’t get good office jobs in Nigeria will ultimately never get the corporate office jobs they drove them away from Nigeria.

Very few NIgerians abroad will ever be able to live the lifestyle of a Nigerian who makes it in Nigeria. When we make it here, we dont pay car notes or mortgages, when we buy holiday homes there we pay cash! We don’t live in fear of deportation or credit scores!


For me if you don’t have citizenship and you didn’t have a proper respectable professional job lined up or a high probability you have the skills to obtain one, stay in Nigeria with your N20m. It will likely take you as a non citizen up to 10 years to get a foothold and you are living in constant fear of deportation. Your mates in Nigeria will 100% exceed you in 10 years and ultimately thereafter.

Furthermore after hunger stops being your primary focus you will realize you will forever be a nobody no matter how much your bank balance and most Japas will never have an enviable bank balance.

The story of japa is the story of the tortoise and the hare….the tortoise always wins the race!

For every Nigerian without papers who makes it (and please let’s get it straight it is only a minority) and probably starts out as a bottom cleaner and eventually owns his care home, starts as a gardener and eventually owns a landscaping business, starts driving cabs/trucks and eventually owns a cab/truck business. I can bet you they all thought to themselves why didn’t I think of this when I was in Nigeria.

The jobs Nigerians look down on at home is ultimately where the japa Nigeria ends up abroad. There is no office job/ corporate ladder job waiting for you.


NIgerians in diaspora should stop deceiving NIgerians at home with stories of “I know one” . For every 1 you know there are 99 languishing. These are the kinds of stories I was fed as a young man. I was lucky I was a British citizen so things were easier. I could take advantage of the many benefits the system offered me as a citizen to improve myself and access opportunities. I know the fate of Nigerians in the Uk without papers.. Eventually I reached a point of diminishing returns and I came home. I was earning very well in good corporate roles in the Uk but the truth is My mates in Nigeria who were struggling in Nigeria with entry level graduate trainee jobs when I left for london had passed me. There is a ceiling in London, there is no ceiling for a Nigerian in Nigeria.

Stop deceiving Nigerians here at home with “I know one”. You are the ones responsible for deceiving the other 90 who are languishing.

Nigerian is the poverty capital of the world. You're more than likely will never amount to more than a begger. With all the money and business opportunities, why is it the "poor" Nigerians abroad sending billions of dollars home ? When will it be the other way round with all the "I dey do business" people there ?

Nobody abroad cares about the egotistical jobs people in naija value. Nobody cares about your office job. Nobody will Call you "chairman" here. I don't know what my neighbors here do, and I don't care. In a developed nation everyone is treated equally. Men here aren't insecure with big egos.

The "Jobs Nigerians look down on" is a comical statement. When you're the poverty capital of the world, with one of the world's highest youth unemployment rates, you're in no position to look down on anyone.

The funny part of you and most people's ignorance here is doing a blue collar job in a unionized environment abroad will make you money your oga could only dream off. Keep in mind these jobs "Nigerians look down on", people are doing, comes with government benefits and pension. They also live a quality of life 99% of Nigerians in Nigeria could only dream off. My friend you're a joke.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/415-bus-drivers-sunshine-list-1.5505087

https://cw33.com/watercooler/the-112000-job-garbage-truck-driver/

https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/bart-janitor-making-100k-plus-in-salary-alone-group-says/

https://www.sunshineliststats.com/Salary/ziaulhasanshaikh/2025/9/cityofottawa

Savenigeria2023:
What is a meaningful business in this context?, what is the success rate of business in Nigeria today?

You think these "business people" know anything about market research ?

Nuzo1:
😂 😂 😂

And some of these guys have never done business in their lives before o.

And for some who have done, nothing came out of it.
But they are here telling someone who raised 20m in this environment how to start a business. If you ask them which business now, they will tell you pig farming.😄

They feel you can only do business when you are given 1 billion naira at a once.

😆 My guy I'm weak. You have to realize, these are unemployed individuals who are ashamed to admit they're jobless. So everytime they just say "I dey do business". Start talking about real business to them. You'll realize they can't even run a suya stand. People abroad laugh at them. If this individual Japa and go abroad. They advantages they'd have making dollars and having access to loans, if they cameback to naija to do business. With all these "business men" why is naija the poverty capital of the world ?

Smartguyboy:
With all that degree she will end up as a cleaner or security guard. What a pity

A cleaner or blue collar worker in a unionized job, makes more money than your oga's can dream off

walenden:
Please,I have a question: why is Canada committing billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine including Mark Carney’s recent $2 billion pledge and the earlier $20 billion while Canadians are still facing unresolved crises in housing, healthcare, and affordability at home?”

Healthcare is a provincial matter. Speak to your premier. Housing is both levels of government. Canada doesn't care about Ukraine nor are they giving them anything. This is simply Geopolitics. They're trying to make sure a problem, which is Russia doesn't advance to other European countries, as that could hurt Canada's economic prosperity and security.

A good amount of that money will go into NATO as Canada hasn't been paying their fair share for a while now. Not allowing Russia to advance to within the EU allows Canada to keep doing business with the EU instead of Putin. It also keeps Canada safer as the EU has the same security interests as Canada. A lot of reasons to help Ukraine keep Russia at bay. It's not necessarily that Canada cares. Though I'm not saying Canada doesn't have compassion for the people of Ukraine.

Sheron50:
Trump is not “playing God” he is defending U.S. interests, period. That’s what a real leader does: put his country first. Meanwhile, Canada under CUSMA behaves like a weak state, not prioritizing its people or building a strong economy. Instead, it leans almost entirely on immigration as a revenue stream, which is unsustainable and already showing cracks.

He has weakened the US economy. Job losses has increased, prices has drastically increased, and a lot of essential benefits are being clawed back in not erased. He's now firing reserve governers, begging Jerome Powel to reduce interest rates, and even fired head of labour statistics Erika, when she reported how bad the economy has got since Trump took over with undeniable evidence. This is defending US interests ? This is a "real leader" ? He's putting his country or ego first ? The US is currently a laughing stock.

Carney's strategy is clear. Buy time. Canada is 1/10 the size of the US. Obviously the US has an advantage. 85% of trade is protected under CUSMA. There's still tariffs under steel and Aluminum. The other items are tarrfied at a lower percentage in comparison to other countries. Canada has one of the best, if not the best trade deal, with the US, the world's biggest market. That's a fact.

In the meantime other markets are being explored and traded with. Provinces are now united, creating free trade among provinces. Carney has formed military alliance with other European countries and unions, as the US is not as reliable anymore. And so forth. Carney is working behind the scene to diversify different Canadian sectors, mainly trade though. Immigration has been drastically reduced, making it more difficult to even migrate to Canada. I don't know where you're getting the Immigration angle from.

panpan:
The United States citizenship has its flaws.
A citizen of the United States is expected to pay tax to the United States, even if he is resident in another country.
A citizen of the United States is restricted from travelling to, or spending money in certain countries, as determined by the US government.

Where are the flaws ?

hartson:
Canada does not grant automatic citizenship to any child born in Canada via birth tourism

Yes they do

The man probably haven't been servicing his truck. He can get away with it because naija is lawless.

He was speeding but who'll stop him in that lawless country.

No ambulance or urgent care.

Nobody will be held responsible

They'll now say at least we don't deal with racism abroad. And east or west, home is the best.

People will pick those dead people's pocket

LordBiden:
Who told you nothing works here,people are still building houses daily basis?

Its still the poverty capital of the world. No matter what you say.

planetx:
90% of Nigerians living abroad don't even have N20 million saved up or equivalent, and you want to go join them. You are funny and the comments are full of delusional people giving silly advice.

Because they have it in an appreciating asset. Who just leaves cash idle in their account ? Incompetent Nigerians who don't know how to make it in an advanced developed economy. 3rd world poverty mindset..

LivingEarthMan:
I agree with you absolutely. It's hard for me to see any wisdom in 'japa' if somebody has built a solid financial foundation for himself and has been able to legitimately make up to 20 million Naira right here in Nigeria and is capable of making more. What kind of comfortable life and paradise can you not create in Nigeria with that level of money making capacity? The japa thing just doesn't make any sense.

The guy is even sounding like he made the money by some accident and may exhaust it any moment from now if he does not japa fast

The money is clearly stolen and he wants some sort of secure investment before it finished, and he ends up back to his poverty stricken life. Then back to the next run he goes. With inflation, scammers everywhere, and a lawless country with no rule of law or structure, that 20 mill will be gone in a year. Who knows how many ashewos he has toasted already

Shidinky:
Then rent shop then start business and pray to God nothing goes south
Cause no business support system. If your 30m finish.
Otilo bus back to your village

Nigerians and "business". The majority have never studied business before. They're just unemployed. In the US for example, you have a 65% failure rate in 10 years I believe if you start a business. A developed country with law and order, where you can easily get capital. What's naija success to failure rate when you start a business ? Then WHEN it fails, it's back to stealing or your village. "I dey do busses. Business, business" People in naija are jokes. Nobody believes your fabricated business ideas or success. Barely any business can survive in a lawless zoo like naija.

lanresz:
All this talk is not new. The only time there won't be complaints from Alberta is when you have a Conservatives government with less regulations and over reach. If a referendum happens today, the probability of Alberta voting to exit Canada will be very low. Albertans love the public health care system, which is not the case in the US.

That chart shows the importance of having a well managed resource sector. Oil and gas investment is the major driver of it. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/13ab3f73-6e4e-4aac-b56b-bff38800aa65/resource/3c029971-1171-470c-8576-144d1ccc7dd3/download/4170759-2011-07-economic-spotlight-2011-07-08.pdf

Alberta has been a positive net contribution to Canada because of high per capita income and profitable oil and gas company. If you do the same chart for individuals, you will see that very few make positive net contribution to the country. Should those people say they want to exit the country?

The whites are indigenous to the UK. In Alberta they are not. This is not the same. Even if you convince the indigenous nations to leave Canada, how will Alberta get their oil to water for shipment ? You can't get your oil to water as a Canadian province, but somehow you can do it as a foreign country ? Lastly in Canada Albertans are conservatives. In America they are more Liberal than the democratic party. Universal Healthcare ? Tough gun laws ? Etc. Puerto Rico would get statehood before them.

Gerrard59:
There are MANY Nigerians who grew up in Nigeria and moved back full-time. They are not politicians before you come up with that angle. You think everyone is going to live in the abroad till they kpeme? So what about those who have family businesses? Remember when you stated you haven't encountered a Nigerian-to-Nigerian wedding ceremony in Canada until Ednut refuted your claim. Please stop judging scenarios from your experiences alone. Please ask questions when you aren't too sure.

Nothing concerns me with owning a property in Nigeria. My mom already did that.

Afternoon sir. Ednut did not refute any claim. He stated his reality based on his life experience, Just like I did. He could be lying for all we know. It is the internet. He could also make the same arguments about me.

But to answer your question. Nigeria is definitely a grave site for people in the diaspora. In this economy, unless you're on ground full-time, that family business is most definitely being looted. But if it doesn't fit one's narrative, I'll be labeled as not being sure. I wish we can get reliable Data on this. You haven't even given a definition on what going back full-time is. But based on my experience, the older uncles who bragged about going back. You couldn't pay them enough to go back. The most they'll do is leaving money aside to be buried back home. My 2 cents

Gerrard59:
This is one major issue I have with living in Nigeria. But then, many diasporans will move back. Nothing beats a familiar environment, Ms Maternal.

I can't think of a Nigerian who grew up in Nigeria, that moved back full-time. 99% of the time it's all talk. The downgrade of the quality of life is too great. Then again, what's your definition of moving back ? Building a house in the village only to comeback 2 weeks out of the year isn't coming back. The poverty is so great, that it's not a familiar environment anymore. It's actually sad and heart breaking.

pansophist:
Sometimes it is not about the age, but the destination.

A Nigerian man moving to Ghana will not experience much cultural differences, and will easily blend from day one.

But to lets say Canada or Norway? Even if you have the best job and earn good, it will be akin to giving up a part of yourself that is inalienable.

To be far from families and all the conveniences you know, the cold, isolation, unending bills, and not feeling like one, these are challenges that cant be escaped from even if you earn alot.

For naija your family are usually your worse enemy. And there's no unending bills in Africa ? I'd take a functional society over all those things. What's the point feeling like one, when light no dey ?

Gerrard59:
I remember when I challenged you regarding the bold in one of the migration threads that graced the FP. Looking back, I feel so bad for it, and I apologise. Ignorance no good. I am glad I am even young in the game. Anything above 35 will be hard for the person to integrate and truly enjoy the experience. For those who are in that age range, they should focus squarely on what took them there, say raising money or getting the education/experience. As for insecurity, there are nearby West African countries that are safer than Nigeria. This is one of the major reasons I push/wish/want prosperous and functioning Black dominated countries.

Nothing beats being in a place where the majority look like you, speak like you, eat like you et al. The adventure I have in has been good, but the long term will be living in a place where the majority look like me and contributing my quota to societal development using what I have learnt here.

With all due respect, you were living in a place where you were the majority. Why did you leave ? Let's not forget why we left our majority black countries.

SIRTee15:
The bigger problem is a vote for this Mark Carney and his pro-climate, anti-pipeline stance will lead to voters frustration in Alberta leading to deepened independence agitation in that province.
Alberta is one of the few provinces immune to the Trumps tariff war and the last thing we need is allow electoral dissatisfaction become a thing in the province. Recent poll shows majority of Albertans are very open to leaving Canada and the Alberta Premier has said she wouldn't oppose any call for referendum if the voters demand for it.

We can avoid all this by voting common sense. Vote Pierre Poilievre

Please post this poll, or where you got the info, that the majority of Albertans want to leave Canada. Do people even know the logistics of what's involved to accomplish that ? Then the US needs to vote them in. The Republicans consider Albertans Liberals. It won't happen.

If Albertan somehow becomes a nation, what makes you think Trump won't slap Tarrifs on the nation ? It looks like the Liberals will win. An unreal 180. PP inability to pivot, and Danielle inability to keep quiet and not rock the boat caused this. Canada is a diverse nation, and not everything is about oil. Nobody outside of Alberta is buying the separation threat. Its better each province and territory works together. Energy projects will be more favored now. Canada's economy independence and prosperity depends on it.

funkyy598:
Do you live in a place like Ellesmere Island, a remote island in Nunavut, or somewhere else?

lol I'm around only major cities

ednut1:
i have attended 3 weddings of Nigerians marrying Nigerians in Canada o.

Goodness in one year ? I can recall 3 since being here. And all 3 women were born and bread in Canada. They wanted to be with someone like their father. If Canada kept such data, it'd be interesting to see.

Gerrard59:
You mean to tell me you don't know a single Nigerian man who holds PR at least, that is married to a Nigerian woman who already resides in Canada?

Truth is: Nigerians will marry themselves. Who wan marry us before? Nigeriens? Liberians? Indians? We would marry ourselves.

Only my cousin in Texas. It's actually a she. She demanded the now husband get his green card before talking to her. She's the only person I know who did it. I know some guys in Canada who did it for "alternative reasons" but they don't count. But for a legit marriage ? Haven't seen one in my generation. I also was thinking hard before replying.

I've been discussing this issue for years. It's very complex. It's not black and white. My direct family is part of this conversation. But I'll keep certain explanation to myself. People here will accuse me of being bitter and angry if they don't agree with my life experiences. Lastly, naija men abroad are in extremely high demand. Thanks to the burna boys shipping the "culture" and music abroad. Then Nollywood of course. Being with a naija man is the thing to do if you're a black woman nowadays

Gerrard59:
This is a fact I hope many of our men who run their mouths on social about being #TeamForeignWomen realise. Humans are tribal and would always prefer to marry their kinds. I think a major part of the ignorance stems from those in Nigeria who believe it is that easy for someone who spent at least 25 years in a particular society to quickly move on to marry someone from a different race and cultural upbringing. Even for the same race, but different cultural upbringing, it is hard let alone a different race.

As you stated, since the numbers have ballooned over the years, marrying one's kind is easier compared to those who live in countries with few black people.

In summary, humans are tribal.


Not surprised. It is usually harder for immigrant women to marry outside their race compared to immigrant men. Also, they have it tough since there is an existing Black British female population. So the competition for attraction is fierce. I wonder what it is like in Canada. Abi dem go marry Indians and create minii-Trinidads?


They should embrace single-hood. No be everybody go marry. It is the new cultural dispensation.

I don't think I know one Nigeria man in Canada who married a Nigerian woman. Unless they were already married in naija before coming to Canada.

DaddyCoool:
I hope u r a Nigerian. Because we can criticize ourselves to the skies, but don't u dare join in if u r NOT a Nigerian

You think other Africans care or have time to criticize the "giant of Africans" who are still living in darkness in 2025 ? Honest question.

motayoayinde:
For me,, it's only ONE THING.

NIGERIANS.

By my estimation, Nigerians are the GREEDIEST and most dishonest people on earth.

We are also some of the most lawless on this planet too.

Nigerians are SICK.

And the most bizarre

Most don't even realize they're sick.

Just real life uncivilized, lawless demons. And thinking they're smarter than everyone in the room. When I was in my mama Belle is when I realized

ednut1:
Just look at the oil/gas pipelines in Canada. Only one pipeline goes to the sea. While all the others go to the USA, Ontario is even tapping from the USA Leg.

Its time for government to stop all these green/climate change driven policies that blocks direct pipeline projects to places like Ontario/Quebec/the Artic . Trump has hit us below the belt 😪

What Trump did has been amazing. His threats has really sent Canada in the right direction, with regards to diversifying their economy. Unfortunately he paused the tariffs for now, which I knew he would. But kudos to Trump.

njambert:
The goodnews is he doesn't have to cater for every interest group and he has intimated just that. He doesn't have to cater for climate change and environmentalist fanatics in order to develop the gas pipelines or to axe the carbon tax. He doesn't have to cater to woke and far left extremists inorder to pass laws against degenerate sexual tendencies. He doesn't have to cater to those who scream racism just because more cautious measures will have to be introduced to handle immigration. There's no saviour in this world who will bring an end to all suffering, Jesus ultimately is, and only to Him should we cast our hope for life without sorrow. However, there's hope for a betterment in some areas.

Politicians will say anything to get votes. You don't cater to X groups, they'll cause disturbance to get their voice heard. You want to build a pipeline to a certain location, well you may have to go through provinces which have autonomy. You do a policy which may not be popular, you still have the court system all the way to the Supreme Court to try to squash it. This is not black and white is my point. Only time will tell. The system is built to keep the PM power at bay. No dictatorship can strive in western political systems.

lanresz:
Common sense is far from the current Liberals. It is a pity that Harper didn't do half of what they had done before he was voted out. All economic indices are worse than when the current government took over. Trudeau promised us that the Budget would balance itself. He inherited a balanced Budget from Harper and never ran a balanced budget for 9 years in power. There is a huge difference when a country replaces an Economist Prime Minister with a Drama teacher.
[b]However, Canada does not export oil to the U.S. at a discount because of the Liberals and their environmental rubbish. [/b]Although Trudeau stopped the North Gateway pipeline, TC Energy (TransCanada) cancelled the Energy East pipeline due to opposition from Quebec and a lack of government support. If those pipelines are in service, Alberta crudes will continue to trade at a discount to the U.S. crudes partly due to:
• Alberta produces mainly heavy crudes, which must be traded at a discount to U.S. light crudes to be competitive in the markets.
• If those pipelines were built, the total capacity of those pipelines would be less than the total export to the U.S. The clearing market for the crudes will remain the U.S. The clearing price for those crudes in Alberta will account for the cost of transportation to the U.S.

The liberal government is like the black sheep of the family. Everyone is taking out their frustration on them. A lot of things regarding the oil industry are being blamed on the Liberals, unjustly so. I worked in northern Alberta for 6 years. Conservative voters shouldn't get their hopes up as absolutely nothing will change. Watch.

You can make a bunch of promises and talk tough throughout the campaign. But once you get into government and realize you have to cater to every interest groups as much as possible, then you have provincial autonomy which can delay or destroy a PM objective; you'll then understand how hard it is to please everyone. Personally, I know not much will change. Don't get your hopes up my people.

sanima770:
With the current threat from Trump of imposing tariff hikes on Canada, if this goes ahead, won't Canada potentially enter a recession? And with the Canadian currency falling now, isn't it a better time to start saving money in US dollars? It's unfortunate that, despite Canada's vast resources and population, its economy is so heavily dependent on the USA. Perhaps Trump has a point—if there is so much dependence on the USA, maybe it would be better for Canada to become a state of the United States!

They'd be a recession on both ends. The border states would especially suffer. Specifically the auto industry, where auto parts go back and forth about 7 times before the car is finished being built. So you'll charge tariffs each time a part crosses the border ? How much more would that car now cost ?

A lot of Canadian retirees who want to get away from the harsh winters go and live down south in places like Arizona, Florida, Texas, etc. Florida's economy would greatly suffer if not almost collapse without the influx of Canadians each winter. If the CDN dollar gets extremely weak, a lot would go to another warm destination, where they'd at least have decent purchasing power. Whereas, a lot of American companies would come up north as their operating costs would greatly reduce in Canada, as they operate in USD. That's why Hollywood films a lot of movies in Canada. Its cheaper for them as their movie budget is in USD.


The US has the world's biggest economy. It'd only make sense for Canada to tie their economy to the US. But it seems they'd be forced to finally diversify now. Other countries are watching this assault on Canada by Trump, and are implementing a diversify policy to not solely rely on the US market. This may hurt the US in the long run. But nonetheless, don't believe Trump nonsense. US citizens would also suffer, and they also need Canada. Both countries economy are integrated. If you shock the system, both countries would feel it, period.

NuCypher:
He has finally done so after weeks of resignation rumours. Lower immigration is definitely going to be one of the eternal consequences of Trudeau (and possibly the liberal party) leaving power. It doesn't look very good for the Liberal party right now. Polls show they very likely will lose in the next elections, except the new party leader spins out some magic before October. It's crazy.
2018-2022 will forever remain the golden period for express entry for most Nigerians. 2018-2022 especially was that period where you could score 430-440 on CRS and still have some decent hope of getting ITA. Now, it has become more difficult with the need of having to learn French to have a real chance. From here, it is even more likely to get more difficult. While they may not stop express entry, chances are they are likely to make it more difficult. The pressures on job, housing and healthcare are showing that the immigration numbers need to come down significantly. Trudeau tried to play on that some months ago, but it didn't work. The conservatives are just going to jump on it to further cement public opinion in their favour.
Anybody that is still dreaming of the best option to PR right now from Nigeria should just go learn French asap and try get in before this time next year.

Immigration is hot and cold. When it's hot, you strike. I think it'll be cold for 5 years. Then it'll be back to the 2018 days. I've advised anyone with a PR who's eligible to apply for citizenship, should do so ASAP . They'll be anti immigration sentiments and narratives for the next few years, with this inevitably new government.

sanima770:
You always give advice based on your hatred for Nigeria, likely stemming from personal or family failures. You didn’t even ask this person about their job in the UK, their residency prospects, or quality of life. Instead, you dismissed both the UK and Nigeria without relevant questions.

Not everyone sees a country as just a passport. For you, it seems all about the Canadian passport and visa-free travel to 180 countries, ignoring whether people have the resources to even travel.

Well, I’m not surprised since you’ve even called your family vultures. People should focus on reasonable advice and ignore this bitterness.

You are very wicked. My "bitterness" for naija is also shared by Davido, Tayo, etc. Naija champion. Read and comprehend. Canada is this person's plan B. If Europe forces them to leave, they'll have to pick between naija or Canada. So what's there to discuss ? They're already doing their research and is planning. But if/when they come to Canada, if things doesn't pan out as expected, they'll change things around and will be forced to adapt.

I've given formulas on how to be successful in Canada, but bad Belle like you constantly dismiss it. Everyone wants to be prime Minister or CEO. My friend fear is just an illusion. I find it funny people in naija talk tough. "Naija no dey carry last", "I be naija person. I can hustle anywhere" . Then people get scared to come and hustle in a developed 1st world country. It's comical.