₦airaland Forum

The Dark Side Of Living Abroad Nigerians Don’t Tell You



Every day on Nairaland, Instagram and WhatsApp, we see pictures of Nigerians abroad living “soft life” — big jackets, snow selfies, fine streets, clean trains.

From Nigeria, it looks like once you japa, all your problems are solved.

But the truth?
There’s a dark side of living abroad many Nigerians don’t talk about — especially those already there.


Let’s be honest.


1. Loneliness Will Deal With You


In Nigeria, even if you’re broke, you have people. Neighbours, family, friends, noise, gist.
Abroad?

You can stay months without real human connection.
Everyone is busy. Everyone is tired. Everyone minds their business.


Many Nigerians abroad battle silent depression, but won’t say it because they don’t want people back home saying “you wanted to japa, now see you.”


2. You’ll Work Jobs You Never Imagined
That “abroad” dignity fades fast.
Doctors become caregivers.
Engineers wash dishes.
Graduates do night shifts nobody wants.


Nothing is wrong with honest work — but the mental shock is real, especially when you remember how people respected you back home.


3. Bills Will Humble You
Yes, currency is strong — but expenses are stronger.
Rent.
Tax.
Insurance.
Transport.
Utilities.
You may earn well, yet still be one emergency away from crisis.

That’s why some Nigerians abroad can’t send money home as often as people think.


4. Racism Is Real (Even If It’s Silent)
It’s not always shouting or insults.
Sometimes it’s:
being ignored
being over-policed
being treated like you don’t belong
working twice as hard to be seen as “normal”
You’ll constantly feel like you have to prove yourself.


5. No Family Safety Net
In Nigeria, if things scatter, you can manage:
stay with family
borrow food
get help
Abroad?
If you fall, you fall alone.
Miss rent = eviction.
Lose job = real trouble.
No uncle. No mummy’s friend. No village support.


6. Immigration Stress Can Break You
Waiting for:
papers
visas
renewals
approvals
Living in fear of one mistake ruining years of effort.
That stress is not a joke. Some Nigerians abroad are physically there but mentally exhausted.


7. You Can’t Easily “Come Back”
Once you japa, coming back empty-handed feels like failure — even if you’re tired.
So people endure misery in silence, just to maintain the image of success.


Final Truth
Living abroad is not bad, but it is not paradise.
Nigeria is hard.
Abroad is hard — just in a different way.
Anyone telling you japa will solve all your problems is not telling the full story.
Over to you, Nairalanders 👇

Would you still japa knowing all this?

Nigerians abroad, what’s the hardest part nobody warned you about?
Let’s talk — no packaging.

Seconded and thirded gbamsolutely!

You'd see that most of the people almost trying to tear the OP apart for stating these clear and true facts actually stand for nothing. They do not care about raising children with morals; they do not mind being treated less than cats; and, all because they want to "make it." It's because of people with their type of reasoning that Nigeria is deteriorating everyday!

Alright, it's working and we pray many learn

Sunnyshinylight:
The Dark Side Of Living Abroad Nigerians Don’t Tell You



Every day on Nairaland, Instagram and WhatsApp, we see pictures of Nigerians abroad living “soft life” — big jackets, snow selfies, fine streets, clean trains.

From Nigeria, it looks like once you japa, all your problems are solved.

But the truth?
There’s a dark side of living abroad many Nigerians don’t talk about — especially those already there.


Let’s be honest.


1. Loneliness Will Deal With You


In Nigeria, even if you’re broke, you have people. Neighbours, family, friends, noise, gist.
Abroad?

You can stay months without real human connection.
Everyone is busy. Everyone is tired. Everyone minds their business.


Many Nigerians abroad battle silent depression, but won’t say it because they don’t want people back home saying “you wanted to japa, now see you.”


2. You’ll Work Jobs You Never Imagined
That “abroad” dignity fades fast.
Doctors become caregivers.
Engineers wash dishes.
Graduates do night shifts nobody wants.


Nothing is wrong with honest work — but the mental shock is real, especially when you remember how people respected you back home.


3. Bills Will Humble You
Yes, currency is strong — but expenses are stronger.
Rent.
Tax.
Insurance.
Transport.
Utilities.
You may earn well, yet still be one emergency away from crisis.

That’s why some Nigerians abroad can’t send money home as often as people think.


4. Racism Is Real (Even If It’s Silent)
It’s not always shouting or insults.
Sometimes it’s:
being ignored
being over-policed
being treated like you don’t belong
working twice as hard to be seen as “normal”
You’ll constantly feel like you have to prove yourself.


5. No Family Safety Net
In Nigeria, if things scatter, you can manage:
stay with family
borrow food
get help
Abroad?
If you fall, you fall alone.
Miss rent = eviction.
Lose job = real trouble.
No uncle. No mummy’s friend. No village support.


6. Immigration Stress Can Break You
Waiting for:
papers
visas
renewals
approvals
Living in fear of one mistake ruining years of effort.
That stress is not a joke. Some Nigerians abroad are physically there but mentally exhausted.


7. You Can’t Easily “Come Back”
Once you japa, coming back empty-handed feels like failure — even if you’re tired.
So people endure misery in silence, just to maintain the image of success.


Final Truth
Living abroad is not bad, but it is not paradise.
Nigeria is hard.
Abroad is hard — just in a different way.
Anyone telling you japa will solve all your problems is not telling the full story.
Over to you, Nairalanders 👇

Would you still japa knowing all this?

Nigerians abroad, what’s the hardest part nobody warned you about?
Let’s talk — no packaging.

Life’s challenges found EVERYWHERE!

The best advice I can give anyone is find a way to earn in $ from Nigeria and enjoy. If you want to travel just go for vacation and come back.

I will still japa, forget. They travel to the tropics for holidays to reset from all these.

Sunnyshinylight:
The Dark Side Of Living Abroad Nigerians Don’t Tell You



Every day on Nairaland, Instagram and WhatsApp, we see pictures of Nigerians abroad living “soft life” — big jackets, snow selfies, fine streets, clean trains.

From Nigeria, it looks like once you japa, all your problems are solved.

But the truth?
There’s a dark side of living abroad many Nigerians don’t talk about — especially those already there.


Let’s be honest.


1. Loneliness Will Deal With You


In Nigeria, even if you’re broke, you have people. Neighbours, family, friends, noise, gist.
Abroad?

You can stay months without real human connection.
Everyone is busy. Everyone is tired. Everyone minds their business.


Many Nigerians abroad battle silent depression, but won’t say it because they don’t want people back home saying “you wanted to japa, now see you.”


2. You’ll Work Jobs You Never Imagined
That “abroad” dignity fades fast.
Doctors become caregivers.
Engineers wash dishes.
Graduates do night shifts nobody wants.


Nothing is wrong with honest work — but the mental shock is real, especially when you remember how people respected you back home.


3. Bills Will Humble You
Yes, currency is strong — but expenses are stronger.
Rent.
Tax.
Insurance.
Transport.
Utilities.
You may earn well, yet still be one emergency away from crisis.

That’s why some Nigerians abroad can’t send money home as often as people think.


4. Racism Is Real (Even If It’s Silent)
It’s not always shouting or insults.
Sometimes it’s:
being ignored
being over-policed
being treated like you don’t belong
working twice as hard to be seen as “normal”
You’ll constantly feel like you have to prove yourself.


5. No Family Safety Net
In Nigeria, if things scatter, you can manage:
stay with family
borrow food
get help
Abroad?
If you fall, you fall alone.
Miss rent = eviction.
Lose job = real trouble.
No uncle. No mummy’s friend. No village support.


6. Immigration Stress Can Break You
Waiting for:
papers
visas
renewals
approvals
Living in fear of one mistake ruining years of effort.
That stress is not a joke. Some Nigerians abroad are physically there but mentally exhausted.


7. You Can’t Easily “Come Back”
Once you japa, coming back empty-handed feels like failure — even if you’re tired.
So people endure misery in silence, just to maintain the image of success.


Final Truth
Living abroad is not bad, but it is not paradise.
Nigeria is hard.
Abroad is hard — just in a different way.
Anyone telling you japa will solve all your problems is not telling the full story.
Over to you, Nairalanders 👇

Would you still japa knowing all this?

Nigerians abroad, what’s the hardest part nobody warned you about?
Let’s talk — no packaging.

Not enough reason for me to stay back in this country

Come back Home and enjoy the bright side of living in Nigeria.

RoadMozart:
Not enough reason for me to stay back in this country

There's always that one person.

Nobody is forcing you to remain. Just prepare and be prepared that's all.

Unless I no c work that I can save at least 1000$ per month. I can't stay more than 5 years in abroad. If I save up to 80m, I'm good to come back home

Maj196:
The best advice I can give anyone is find a way to earn in $ from Nigeria and enjoy. If you want to travel just go for vacation and come back.

Untill you die in the hands of either unknown gunmen , npf or nigerian doctors.

Anyone with an IQ above room temperature understands that migrating comes with inherent challenges.

Seconded!

The bright side is you earn a lot, much more than oil company workers, bank managers etc. Once you get paid, you go forget dark sides.

Kaczynski:
Untill you die in the hands of either unknown gunmen , npf or nigerian doctors.

Back to sender

You are absolutely correct 💯💯..infact I pity people that think they want to travel and later come for their family..when reality comes, if your mental health is not strong self you might run mad 💔..and dey will think it's village people which is not..
And if they tell you Nigerian are wicked not the regular one you see in Nigeria ooo, the one in naija dey learn, if you see what Nigerian do to their fellow Nigerian outside ehn, you won't have any pity for any Nigerians except your family and inner circle 💯.. Nigeria abroad have this mentality of na here we meet, I don't know him from anywhere so it's easy carrying out their wickedness.. so pathetic

Sunnyshinylight:
The Dark Side Of Living Abroad Nigerians Don’t Tell You



Every day on Nairaland, Instagram and WhatsApp, we see pictures of Nigerians abroad living “soft life” — big jackets, snow selfies, fine streets, clean trains.

From Nigeria, it looks like once you japa, all your problems are solved.

But the truth?
There’s a dark side of living abroad many Nigerians don’t talk about — especially those already there.


Let’s be honest.


1. Loneliness Will Deal With You


In Nigeria, even if you’re broke, you have people. Neighbours, family, friends, noise, gist.
Abroad?

You can stay months without real human connection.
Everyone is busy. Everyone is tired. Everyone minds their business.


Many Nigerians abroad battle silent depression, but won’t say it because they don’t want people back home saying “you wanted to japa, now see you.”


2. You’ll Work Jobs You Never Imagined
That “abroad” dignity fades fast.
Doctors become caregivers.
Engineers wash dishes.
Graduates do night shifts nobody wants.


Nothing is wrong with honest work — but the mental shock is real, especially when you remember how people respected you back home.


3. Bills Will Humble You
Yes, currency is strong — but expenses are stronger.
Rent.
Tax.
Insurance.
Transport.
Utilities.
You may earn well, yet still be one emergency away from crisis.

That’s why some Nigerians abroad can’t send money home as often as people think.


4. Racism Is Real (Even If It’s Silent)
It’s not always shouting or insults.
Sometimes it’s:
being ignored
being over-policed
being treated like you don’t belong
working twice as hard to be seen as “normal”
You’ll constantly feel like you have to prove yourself.


5. No Family Safety Net
In Nigeria, if things scatter, you can manage:
stay with family
borrow food
get help
Abroad?
If you fall, you fall alone.
Miss rent = eviction.
Lose job = real trouble.
No uncle. No mummy’s friend. No village support.


6. Immigration Stress Can Break You
Waiting for:
papers
visas
renewals
approvals
Living in fear of one mistake ruining years of effort.
That stress is not a joke. Some Nigerians abroad are physically there but mentally exhausted.


7. You Can’t Easily “Come Back”
Once you japa, coming back empty-handed feels like failure — even if you’re tired.
So people endure misery in silence, just to maintain the image of success.


Final Truth
Living abroad is not bad, but it is not paradise.
Nigeria is hard.
Abroad is hard — just in a different way.
Anyone telling you japa will solve all your problems is not telling the full story.
Over to you, Nairalanders 👇

Would you still japa knowing all this?

Nigerians abroad, what’s the hardest part nobody warned you about?
Let’s talk — no packaging.

Maj196:
The best advice I can give anyone is find a way to earn in $ from Nigeria and enjoy. If you want to travel just go for vacation and come back.

Life doesn’t end in Nigeria bro after making money in Nigeria, you will still come abroad to live the best of life and to also make use of the best facilities and technology life can offer.

I no go lie for you brother

buttlover:
Unless I no c work that I can save at least 1000$ per month. I can't stay more than 5 years in abroad. If I save up to 80m, I'm good to come back home

80M for Eba abi Ewedu?

Even in a country where everybody are making it, someone somewhere is not still making it

With the exception of 1 an 4, the rest of what you wrote is gibberish.
Please also help with the good and dark side of living in Nigeria and lets contrast and compare and give out vote, asking which side everyone will prefer.

Let people pick their poisons FFS!

Most enlightened people that are going know all these. But they are ready to risk it all for the betterment of themselves and their family.

Go ask those people who were unfortunate to hear pipty million, they'll choose all these dark sides over staying in this country.

There's dark sides to everyth in life...

Very wacked and incoherent post from the OP.

For those who can afford it, move if you have what it takes to survive out there. Nigeria is not destined to be great. Don't put your eggs in one basket. Tinubu will not solve Nigeria's problem. The political class will continue to be selfish and wicked. Infact, expect more hardship in Nigeria.

Life itself has ups and downs. It's not cheap anywhere, but survival rate out there is higher than Nigeria. We were not prepared to be a great country from day one. The British were self-centred and after their own interest before the creation of Nigeria. Pulling different nationalities into one was the greatest mistake in the life of humanity. Plan your life and forget what people say.

There is the dark side everywhere, Nigeria very included.

This is the problem I have with those that do not have the means to relocate, and instead of them to stay calm they’ll start saying things to comfort themselves or those that have the means but still undecided to relocate. This same person tell him I will sponsor your relocation abroad his rhetorics will change.

In abroad there’s dignity in labour no matter the job you do you’re respected because you can pay your bills and also contribute to the society by way of your personal income tax, the CEO of you company respects you, attend same company town hall meeting of your company, seats in the same hall, chat eat and if you see him in an elevator or walk-way you still address him by his name Michael or whatever and tell him how you feel about the company be it positive or negative without fear.

The present day Nigeria with people like Tinubu, Wike and APC any Western country is better no matter the kind of menial job you do. My brother works with government before he relocated to UK and when he was in Nigeria he was just managing with the government job, but today he’s doing extremely well buying properties and taken up more responsibilities something that would have been almost impossible if he was still in Nigeria with his family.

Yes, the early months or years of relocating abroad could be challenging but it’s temporary provided you know what to do like in the case of Canada getting the Canadian job experience by just getting any job to start paying your bills then start improving yourself, you’ll see how things will gradually change.

And beside people like me that relocated to Canada I did it for my family I mean my kids giving them the best of education, exposure, health and better opportunities. Yes at the beginning I didn’t get the kind of job I wanted but I started somewhere got the Canada job experience first then started moving from one company to company before I finally landed the job I am proud of today, after landing the job i did not stop there I started writing more certification exams in the industry to prepare myself in case a greater opportunity comes.

Lastly, no body should deceive anyone if you have the means to relocate abroad do but be strategic, calculative set your goals and target long term and short term. Around 2013 I was working with a multi national in Nigeria and my brother approached me to sponsor him to Australia for his masters education as a way of relocation I discouraged him then that let him do his masters in Nigeria that he’ll get a better paying job in Nigeria like me that Nigeria has all the potentials, I did sponsored his masters in Nigeria by 2015 I regretted not sending him to Australia when he brought that idea and proposal.

Well said. When I was younger, I do see all this Benin folks coming in to Nigeria to work as househelps, then as a young adult, I witnessed hausas coming to southwest to dig well and other menial jobs. Now that I'm grown, I see hausas migrating to southwest as Okada riders etc.


When I hear Japa, I imagine those Cotonou girls washing Amala plates etc and I picture those Hausa boys doing Okada etc. And I'm always like is this what I want for myself? Their is dignity in labour but not all labour as dignity in it. For those that Japa, I guess they can withstand it and they're fine with it. For folks like me, I'd rather go abroad for holidays and as a tourist than go just for survival instincts. What's now the difference between y'all and those Cotonou girls in bukas.

Maj196:
The best advice I can give anyone is find a way to earn in $ from Nigeria and enjoy. If you want to travel just go for vacation and come back.

If you have the knowledge and skills that can get you a better life in countries that offers a higher quality of life...go for it.

I earned $$$ while in Nigeria and still relocated out of Nigeria, earning more, the best decision ever.

Tell Wike children and politicians children to come back home before I believe this rubbish.
Wike's wife and all his children are citizens of America, your President son Seyi Tinubu is a British citizen, Festus Keyemo Children are all based in Atlanta U.S.
Stop this deception.
I have been abroad.
The worst abroad is better than the best APC Nigeria.
With all your points, find out why many Nigerians in abroad do not want to come back home.

Maj196:
The best advice I can give anyone is find a way to earn in $ from Nigeria and enjoy. If you want to travel just go for vacation and come back.

Once u can do this, the zeal to japa diminishes..

Next thing is to structure ur kids to japa. early