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It is unrealistic to prevent or to lay an embargo on emigration in a country where the government is not ready to assist her citizens. A nation that gained independence some 44 years ago but cannot provide her inhabitants welfare. The welfare of the majority is not primary to government’s policy formulation and implementation. Employment, Food, Health Care, Housing Education, Water, Electricity, Transportation, and Security are far from reach. Instead of these necessities our leaders continue to squander our meager resources to travel all over the world seeking reconciliation which ought not to be their primary desire. Servicing our debts, increasing the price of fuel indiscriminately, inviting foreigners to invest where there is no peace, fighting for peace in other countries whereas the country is faced with various and constant ethnic crisis and wars and where the massive majority are in real hunger. Ours is a nation where none of our refineries are in order. After many years of military dictatorship, the present democratic government is of no real difference. Today, a vast majority of Nigeria citizens are living in abject poverty; living from hand to mouth, hoping in the lord for what the future holds for them.
Concluding, one major solution to the emigration problem is for our government to re-define her policies and focus more on the necessary cares of her citizens and provide a conducive atmosphere for growth and development. It is therefore reasonable to expect the government to view her policies on emigration with respect to her own economic and political interests. This ought to include consideration of the internal distribution of income. In many ways, this is likely to lead to limited and controlled emigration.
Strongly, linked with this is the question of legacy. What legacy are we leaving behind for our children? The government does not presently appear to be disturbed with the massive drift of her citizens to other countries for greener pastures, the fact remains that both the emigrants and those who still prefer to stay, despite all odds, will surely die one day. Then, what shall we be leaving behind for the future generations, a hell that our leaders have helped create here in Nigeria? Surely our children will knock at our graves and ask, “Why did you bring us into this worldly hell called Nigeria.” Hence, it is our sole obligation and responsibility to create a conducive atmosphere in our nation today to prevent our citizens from abandoning our fatherland for foreign lands. Knowing that we have no other place to call our home than Nigeria. There is no place like home.
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Henry Ekwuruke
Henry Ekwuruke is Executive Director of the Development Generation Africa International.
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