₦airaland Forum

story...
weda u like it or not U must visit UK and leave this god forsaken country called Nigeria,
Ur story is fake , paid by APC so we won't japa

justwise:
Abroad is not for everyone and you are the perfect example of that and that was exactly why you returned home...little to do with reasons you stated above.

If you are spending £400 a month on food alone as a single person then you came to this world to eat. London is expensive and you are paying £900 a month on rent and you never thought of moving out of London for the whole 5yrs? Nigeria will happen to you.

The 900pounds he is paying is even small, I know people in the UK who are even spending more on rent

Ifeoluwadev:
Let me start by saying this: I know what you are thinking. "This guy don craze." Even my own mother cried when I told her I was coming back.
I left Nigeria in 2019. Got a visa through my company's transfer program, packed two bags, and landed in Manchester on a cold Tuesday morning that nearly killed my Lagos raised soul.
For 5 years, I did everything "right."
Got a better paying job. Sent money home every month. Upgraded my family's life. Got my indefinite leave to remain sorted. On paper, I was living the dream every Nigerian prays for at night.
But last December, I packed those same two bags now four and came back to Lagos.
Here is why.
1. I WAS LONELY IN A WAY I CANNOT FULLY EXPLAIN
Nobody warns you about this.
You can be surrounded by colleagues, housemates, even "friends" and still feel like a ghost. British people are polite but not warm. There is a difference. You will smile at your neighbor for 3 years and never know his first name.
In Lagos, my street alone has more genuine human connection than my entire postcode in Manchester. My landlord's wife used to bring me food when I was sick. My neighbor knew my name within 24 hours.
I did not realize how much I needed that until I did not have it anymore.
2. THE MONEY LOOKED BIG UNTIL IT DIDN'T
Yes, I was earning in pounds. But London/UK cost of living will humble you fast.
Rent: £900/month for a small flat. Food: £400/month if you cook mostly at home. Transport: £200/month. Bills: £150/month.
By the time you finish doing the math, that "big salary" is already half gone before you enjoy anything. And if you have family back home depending on you, which most of us do, you are effectively running two households.
Back in Lagos, with the savings and investments I had built up, I now run a small logistics business. Last month I cleared more in naira than I was taking home in pounds after expenses.
People forget to calculate purchasing power and cost of living when they are dreaming about abroad.
3. I WAS AGEING WITHOUT LIVING
This one is personal. In the UK, my routine was: wake up, commute, work, come home, cook, sleep, repeat. Weekends were for grocery shopping and rest because Monday was always coming. In Lagos, even with the chaos, there is LIFE. There is noise and owambe and suya at midnight and people who actually want to sit with you and argue about football for 3 hours. There is color. There is energy. I went to the UK and became productive. I came back to Nigeria and started actually living.
4. MY PARENTS ARE GETTING OLD I watched my father shrink over video calls. My mother's hair went completely white in 3 years. They never complained, that is the Nigerian parent way, but I could see it. No amount of money sent home replaces presence. I know that sounds like something on a greeting card, but I promise you it is true. My father's face when I walked through the door in December is something I will never forget. I refuse to be the child who shows up for the burial after spending the last good years sending money instead of time.
5. OPPORTUNITY IN NIGERIA IS UNDERRATED This will be controversial, I know. But hear me out. Nigeria is hard. The infrastructure is a disaster. Fuel prices are criminal. The government is not your friend. AND YET, for someone with skill, international exposure, savings, and the willingness to grind, Nigeria rewards you in ways that a saturated Western economy cannot. The competition is not as fierce at the top. The gaps in the market are enormous. I identified a logistics gap in my area. Started small. Now I have 6 staff and three vehicles. I am building something. In the UK I was building someone else's dream.
THE HONEST DOWNSIDES, I WON'T LIE TO YOU. Light situation is still a spiritual attack. Generator fuel is expensive. The roads want to kill me daily. Some things that should take 30 minutes take 3 days because of bureaucracy. I sometimes miss the simple efficiency of abroad. Ordering something and it actually arrives. Bills that just work. I am not here to sell you a fantasy. Nigeria is hard. But it is MY hard. And I am building something meaningful inside it.
6. FINAL WORD I am not saying don't Japa. If you have the opportunity and you are young, GO. Gather experience, save money, build skills, see the world. But do not let anyone make you feel like returning home is failure. It is a choice. And for me, it has been the best one I ever made. I am home. I am building. I am alive. [/i] Drop your questions or your own experience below, let us talk.

Interesting writeup! Below is a list of what I got from your statements.

1. You did not make genuine human connections with those you claim were your friends in your new place. Why?

2. Are you insinuating that back in Nigeria, you were able to save up more or enjoy more with the money you made back then? If yes, then why did you leave Nigeria?

3. There are parties, suya joints(maybe not the same look), bars, and soccer pubs in the UK as well. Why did you make the personal decision to deny yourself all of that?

4. Alright!

5. Now you are being honest.

6. Interesting! You did fail to assimilate abroad. That is detailed in your writeup, and honestly, is not a bad thing. And I hope the best for you in Nigeria.

Spot on!

I know someone that moved to Abuja from Sapele then relocated back to Sapele after 4 years claiming Abuja was too mechanical for him.

No one could tell him the issue was him not Abuja

Kobojunkie:
Interesting writeup! Below is a list of what I got from your statements.

1. You did not make genuine human connections with those you claim were your friends in your new place. Why?

2. Are you insinuating that back in Nigeria, you were able to save up more or enjoy more with the money you made back then? If yes, then why did you leave Nigeria?

3. There are parties, suya joints(maybe not the same look), bars, and soccer pubs in the UK as well. Why did you make the personal decision to deny yourself all of that?

4. Alright!

5. Now you are being honest.

6. Interesting! You did fail to assimilate abroad. That is detailed in your writeup, and honestly, is not a bad thing. And I hope the best for you in Nigeria.

If u are still working for someone,u will know that Nigeria is tough and abroad is great but if u have something u set up like this OP. U will know the sweetness of this country.

U can make it easily in Nigeria than any where else in the world.

That is my own token.

Ifeoluwadev:
Let me start by saying this: I know what you are thinking. "This guy don craze." Even my own mother cried when I told her I was coming back.

I left Nigeria in 2019. Got a visa through my company's transfer program, packed two bags, and landed in Manchester on a cold Tuesday morning that nearly killed my Lagos raised soul.

For 5 years, I did everything "right."

Got a better paying job. Sent money home every month. Upgraded my family's life. Got my indefinite leave to remain sorted. On paper, I was living the dream every Nigerian prays for at night.

But last December, I packed those same two bags now four and came back to Lagos.

Here is why.

1. I WAS LONELY IN A WAY I CANNOT FULLY EXPLAIN

Nobody warns you about this.

You can be surrounded by colleagues, housemates, even "friends" and still feel like a ghost. British people are polite but not warm. There is a difference. You will smile at your neighbor for 3 years and never know his first name.

In Lagos, my street alone has more genuine human connection than my entire postcode in Manchester. My landlord's wife used to bring me food when I was sick. My neighbor knew my name within 24 hours.

I did not realize how much I needed that until I did not have it anymore.

2. THE MONEY LOOKED BIG UNTIL IT DIDN'T

Yes, I was earning in pounds. But London/UK cost of living will humble you fast.

Rent: £900/month for a small flat. Food: £400/month if you cook mostly at home. Transport: £200/month. Bills: £150/month.

By the time you finish doing the math, that "big salary" is already half gone before you enjoy anything. And if you have family back home depending on you, which most of us do, you are effectively running two households.

Back in Lagos, with the savings and investments I had built up, I now run a small logistics business. Last month I cleared more in naira than I was taking home in pounds after expenses.

People forget to calculate purchasing power and cost of living when they are dreaming about abroad.

3. I WAS AGEING WITHOUT LIVING
This one is personal.

In the UK, my routine was: wake up, commute, work, come home, cook, sleep, repeat. Weekends were for grocery shopping and rest because Monday was always coming.

In Lagos, even with the chaos, there is LIFE. There is noise and owambe and suya at midnight and people who actually want to sit with you and argue about football for 3 hours. There is color. There is energy.

I went to the UK and became productive. I came back to Nigeria and started actually living.

4. MY PARENTS ARE GETTING OLD
I watched my father shrink over video calls. My mother's hair went completely white in 3 years. They never complained, that is the Nigerian parent way, but I could see it.

No amount of money sent home replaces presence. I know that sounds like something on a greeting card, but I promise you it is true. My father's face when I walked through the door in December is something I will never forget.

I refuse to be the child who shows up for the burial after spending the last good years sending money instead of time.

5. OPPORTUNITY IN NIGERIA IS UNDERRATED
This will be controversial, I know.

But hear me out. Nigeria is hard. The infrastructure is a disaster. Fuel prices are criminal. The government is not your friend.

AND YET, for someone with skill, international exposure, savings, and the willingness to grind, Nigeria rewards you in ways that a saturated Western economy cannot. The competition is not as fierce at the top. The gaps in the market are enormous.

I identified a logistics gap in my area. Started small. Now I have 6 staff and three vehicles. I am building something. In the UK I was building someone else's dream.

THE HONEST DOWNSIDES, I WON'T LIE TO YOU

Light situation is still a spiritual attack. Generator fuel is expensive. The roads want to kill me daily. Some things that should take 30 minutes take 3 days because of bureaucracy. I sometimes miss the simple efficiency of abroad. Ordering something and it actually arrives. Bills that just work.

I am not here to sell you a fantasy. Nigeria is hard. But it is MY hard. And I am building something meaningful inside it.

FINAL WORD

I am not saying don't Japa. If you have the opportunity and you are young, GO. Gather experience, save money, build skills, see the world.

But do not let anyone make you feel like returning home is failure. It is a choice. And for me, it has been the best one I ever made.

I am home. I am building. I am alive.


[/i]
Drop your questions or your own experience below, let us talk.

no 5 is not true

No 5 is why majority cannot come back...you can lose everything overnight. No job n earning security

meobizy:
Tinubu’s government will chase this one back. He won’t write a report when the country finally frustrates him.

It is not everyone that think low of themselves. Many people are living fine in this same country. I'm working to be among them. Go and discover yourself if you are not among them yet.

Shikena:
➜Spot on! I know someone that moved to Abuja from Sapele then relocated back to Sapele after 4 years claiming Abuja was too mechanical for him. No one could tell him the issue was him not Abuja

Assimilation is a choice; we all know this from the start.However, we pretend it is OK to blame everyone else when we fail to make the necessary chances requred to adapt to new environments and cultures.

Ifeoluwadev:
Let me start by saying this: I know what you are thinking. "This guy don craze." Even my own mother cried when I told her I was coming back.

I left Nigeria in 2019. Got a visa through my company's transfer program, packed two bags, and landed in Manchester on a cold Tuesday morning that nearly killed my Lagos raised soul.

For 5 years, I did everything "right."

Got a better paying job. Sent money home every month. Upgraded my family's life. Got my indefinite leave to remain sorted. On paper, I was living the dream every Nigerian prays for at night.

But last December, I packed those same two bags now four and came back to Lagos.

Here is why.

1. I WAS LONELY IN A WAY I CANNOT FULLY EXPLAIN

Nobody warns you about this.

You can be surrounded by colleagues, housemates, even "friends" and still feel like a ghost. British people are polite but not warm. There is a difference. You will smile at your neighbor for 3 years and never know his first name.

In Lagos, my street alone has more genuine human connection than my entire postcode in Manchester. My landlord's wife used to bring me food when I was sick. My neighbor knew my name within 24 hours.

I did not realize how much I needed that until I did not have it anymore.

2. THE MONEY LOOKED BIG UNTIL IT DIDN'T

Yes, I was earning in pounds. But London/UK cost of living will humble you fast.

Rent: £900/month for a small flat. Food: £400/month if you cook mostly at home. Transport: £200/month. Bills: £150/month.

By the time you finish doing the math, that "big salary" is already half gone before you enjoy anything. And if you have family back home depending on you, which most of us do, you are effectively running two households.

Back in Lagos, with the savings and investments I had built up, I now run a small logistics business. Last month I cleared more in naira than I was taking home in pounds after expenses.

People forget to calculate purchasing power and cost of living when they are dreaming about abroad.

3. I WAS AGEING WITHOUT LIVING
This one is personal.

In the UK, my routine was: wake up, commute, work, come home, cook, sleep, repeat. Weekends were for grocery shopping and rest because Monday was always coming.

In Lagos, even with the chaos, there is LIFE. There is noise and owambe and suya at midnight and people who actually want to sit with you and argue about football for 3 hours. There is color. There is energy.

I went to the UK and became productive. I came back to Nigeria and started actually living.

4. MY PARENTS ARE GETTING OLD
I watched my father shrink over video calls. My mother's hair went completely white in 3 years. They never complained, that is the Nigerian parent way, but I could see it.

No amount of money sent home replaces presence. I know that sounds like something on a greeting card, but I promise you it is true. My father's face when I walked through the door in December is something I will never forget.

I refuse to be the child who shows up for the burial after spending the last good years sending money instead of time.

5. OPPORTUNITY IN NIGERIA IS UNDERRATED
This will be controversial, I know.

But hear me out. Nigeria is hard. The infrastructure is a disaster. Fuel prices are criminal. The government is not your friend.

AND YET, for someone with skill, international exposure, savings, and the willingness to grind, Nigeria rewards you in ways that a saturated Western economy cannot. The competition is not as fierce at the top. The gaps in the market are enormous.

I identified a logistics gap in my area. Started small. Now I have 6 staff and three vehicles. I am building something. In the UK I was building someone else's dream.

THE HONEST DOWNSIDES, I WON'T LIE TO YOU

Light situation is still a spiritual attack. Generator fuel is expensive. The roads want to kill me daily. Some things that should take 30 minutes take 3 days because of bureaucracy. I sometimes miss the simple efficiency of abroad. Ordering something and it actually arrives. Bills that just work.

I am not here to sell you a fantasy. Nigeria is hard. But it is MY hard. And I am building something meaningful inside it.

FINAL WORD

I am not saying don't Japa. If you have the opportunity and you are young, GO. Gather experience, save money, build skills, see the world.

But do not let anyone make you feel like returning home is failure. It is a choice. And for me, it has been the best one I ever made.

I am home. I am building. I am alive.


[/i]
Drop your questions or your own experience below, let us talk.

You're doing well...I can't see dieing abroad, I love my country. The love. If you want to japa go ahead, that's what you like. For me, I want to be close to my origin.

Nigeria is a good place to make money if you have what it takes it to make it. Know how to predict the future, events and occurrences and use this to your advantage, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Near is enough to make millions. Always take into consideration the things you can’t control.. bad infrastructure, unfriendly government policies.
Logistics business is a booming business in Nigeria and those who are in it right now are the future billionaires in the future. They are going to make so much money but only if they can survive the never stopping challenges..

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Rapmoney:
If you listen to these people as a young Nigerian, you will regret it later.

If you have the opportunity to travel to a better environment, do not think it twice.

The 200 million Naira National Orientation Agency Anti-Japa programme has reached Nairaland.

Gracias.

I would never ever take any of these people seriously.

The chances of you succeeding as an entrepreneur in those top countries when compared to Nigeria is much higher.

He said he’s running a logistics business. He would make much more money if he headquartered that business in the UK and run international deliveries.

Only those with large money, connections to corrupt politicians and systems make it in businesses here.

I’ll want him to come back and tell us in another 5 years how his logistics business went.

I love this 2 comments. You won't believe it until you see it. I always advice the younger once that's admiring to travel to go. But work hard, save money, learn experiences and come back home and establish.
There's no place like home truly.

In 2019, you got married to your Lekki bros. Had kids etc… then I guess in your parallel universe, UK and ILR also happened.
Same you announced that you are broke before 25th of every month.
Same you announced to the world that in 2020 , you were living in a one room apartment. No husband, etc….
You copied the story from someone…bless your heart!

ibechris:
If u are still working for someone,u will know that Nigeria is tough and abroad is great but if u have something u set up like this OP. U will know the sweetness of this country.

U can make it easily in Nigeria than any where else in the world.

That is my own token.

Easily make it in Nigeria unless you’re in bed with corrupt politicians and civil servants or you have a large cache of money that you can always use whenever your business goes down.

The Nigerian system frustrates businesses and it’s a fact.

Who no go. No go know. God bless your hustle bro

I agree ... 100%. That #1 .... loneliness is a killer. especially for those who were too old to attend Primary or Secondary school. School is where one builds a large friend base ... and is expanded with friends of friends. As an adult ... the friend base becomes verrry limited and these are the people affected by loneliness. Worst are those who bring their elderly parents ... parents that hardly ever meet any of their friends face to face.... except at funerals... and that's pretty much hi and bye And some of us wonder why regardless of the situation at home ... those abroad will return and be oozing with happiness ... mouths always ready to accept local foods ... greeting people in the community they never spoke to before leaving ... always out and about despite warnings to stay safe at home... this is living life.... and pretty soon they know they have to return to ... living for life.

I do salute OP for standing on his own two feet ... not giving a damn about who will think or say what... nor those who know more than him.... what's best for him.

Kaczynski:
You’re telling me you swapped a UK salary for a Lagos logistics business and cleared more in naira? Either your math is as shaky as Nigeria’s power grid or you’re running a glorified okada operation.

So the UK made you a robot and Lagos made you alive? Priorities, my guy.


You’re not building something meaningful. You’re running a glorified okada service with a fancy title. You came back because you couldn’t hack it abroad and now you’re selling it as a choice. Weak.

Spare me the redemption arc. Just admit you missed the suffering.

He's very right. Logistics in 9ja especially Lagos is mad but there are downsides. I guess the downsides are what makes business mad in 9ja. As long as you identify a gap or a need and can plug that gap you'll make mad money.

It does but the returns are huge.

Sheuns:
Easily make it in Nigeria unless you’re in bed with corrupt politicians and civil servants or you have a large cache of money that you can always use whenever your business goes down.

The Nigerian system frustrates businesses and it’s a fact.

sleekman:
It does but the returns are huge.

Huge for those in the favorable pockets of the corrupt politicians.

A very balanced write-up.

SamuraiXXX:
Bloody liar!

There are people who are making good and honest living in this country

you are correct but the security situation is terrible. Don't you see how they are being kidnapped and killed? This is why we need to do something different in tbe next election. I love Nigeria but I am very scared about the security situations. 4 army generals have been kidnapped and killed and the government can't find any of their killers. Now when generals can be killed like that, what is then the faith of a common business man?

His opinion is well respected, let those that want to go decide and do the needful and for us who are still here, we will keep praying for those over there and possibly put in the work so that we can all come back (that is if they still want to come back) to see the Nigeria of our dreams.

Once again, please leave if need be and stay if you so wish.

Rubbish story, you waited until you get ILR. Knowing fully well that with your ILR you can return back to UK anytime you want. Nonsense

okeysoninv:
Rubbish story, you waited until you get ILR. Knowing fully well that with your ILR you can return back to UK anytime you want. Nonsense

What is ILR?

Infact, I read a story 2 days ago about how a young man of about 30years was deported from Canada (or US) after his asylum application was cancelled and on getting to Nigeria briefly he died (in his sleep). I felt very sad and I just wondered why? The downfall or setback of a man should never be his end of his life.
I don't see anything wrong in your decision.
I am 44years old and I have never stepped out of Nigeria😁
Infact, the day I tentatively did, I had to take a bike from Sun tan beach in Badagry across the border into Cotonou, so that I can say - Me self, I have travelled out of Nigeria🤣
I have always said it that even if I travelled, I will always come back. Travelling was never my thing, it's as if I just love to suffer in Nigeria. I have had my good and bad moments but I just never give up!
I love Nigeria and pray to make it here but I feel disgusted by it too sometimes.
Any which way, we continue to rock wherever we find ourselves.

WOW!!!

obinna58:
Fake story
Buuuulssssssshhhhhiiiiit

western slave

I am happy you took that bold step.. i wish to take that someday regardless of how Nigeria is.. abroad is soulless. I wish to go home more than anything else

Ifeoluwadev:
Let me start by saying this: I know what you are thinking. "This guy don craze." Even my own mother cried when I told her I was coming back.

I left Nigeria in 2019. Got a visa through my company's transfer program, packed two bags, and landed in Manchester on a cold Tuesday morning that nearly killed my Lagos raised soul.

For 5 years, I did everything "right."

Got a better paying job. Sent money home every month. Upgraded my family's life. Got my indefinite leave to remain sorted. On paper, I was living the dream every Nigerian prays for at night.

But last December, I packed those same two bags now four and came back to Lagos.

Here is why.

1. I WAS LONELY IN A WAY I CANNOT FULLY EXPLAIN

Nobody warns you about this.

You can be surrounded by colleagues, housemates, even "friends" and still feel like a ghost. British people are polite but not warm. There is a difference. You will smile at your neighbor for 3 years and never know his first name.

In Lagos, my street alone has more genuine human connection than my entire postcode in Manchester. My landlord's wife used to bring me food when I was sick. My neighbor knew my name within 24 hours.

I did not realize how much I needed that until I did not have it anymore.

2. THE MONEY LOOKED BIG UNTIL IT DIDN'T

Yes, I was earning in pounds. But London/UK cost of living will humble you fast.

Rent: £900/month for a small flat. Food: £400/month if you cook mostly at home. Transport: £200/month. Bills: £150/month.

By the time you finish doing the math, that "big salary" is already half gone before you enjoy anything. And if you have family back home depending on you, which most of us do, you are effectively running two households.

Back in Lagos, with the savings and investments I had built up, I now run a small logistics business. Last month I cleared more in naira than I was taking home in pounds after expenses.

People forget to calculate purchasing power and cost of living when they are dreaming about abroad.

3. I WAS AGEING WITHOUT LIVING
This one is personal.

In the UK, my routine was: wake up, commute, work, come home, cook, sleep, repeat. Weekends were for grocery shopping and rest because Monday was always coming.

In Lagos, even with the chaos, there is LIFE. There is noise and owambe and suya at midnight and people who actually want to sit with you and argue about football for 3 hours. There is color. There is energy.

I went to the UK and became productive. I came back to Nigeria and started actually living.

4. MY PARENTS ARE GETTING OLD
I watched my father shrink over video calls. My mother's hair went completely white in 3 years. They never complained, that is the Nigerian parent way, but I could see it.

No amount of money sent home replaces presence. I know that sounds like something on a greeting card, but I promise you it is true. My father's face when I walked through the door in December is something I will never forget.

I refuse to be the child who shows up for the burial after spending the last good years sending money instead of time.

5. OPPORTUNITY IN NIGERIA IS UNDERRATED
This will be controversial, I know.

But hear me out. Nigeria is hard. The infrastructure is a disaster. Fuel prices are criminal. The government is not your friend.

AND YET, for someone with skill, international exposure, savings, and the willingness to grind, Nigeria rewards you in ways that a saturated Western economy cannot. The competition is not as fierce at the top. The gaps in the market are enormous.

I identified a logistics gap in my area. Started small. Now I have 6 staff and three vehicles. I am building something. In the UK I was building someone else's dream.

THE HONEST DOWNSIDES, I WON'T LIE TO YOU

Light situation is still a spiritual attack. Generator fuel is expensive. The roads want to kill me daily. Some things that should take 30 minutes take 3 days because of bureaucracy. I sometimes miss the simple efficiency of abroad. Ordering something and it actually arrives. Bills that just work.

I am not here to sell you a fantasy. Nigeria is hard. But it is MY hard. And I am building something meaningful inside it.

FINAL WORD

I am not saying don't Japa. If you have the opportunity and you are young, GO. Gather experience, save money, build skills, see the world.

But do not let anyone make you feel like returning home is failure. It is a choice. And for me, it has been the best one I ever made.

I am home. I am building. I am alive.


[/i]
Drop your questions or your own experience below, let us talk.

did you come back with money n started ur business or someone gave u