Many Nigerians Abroad Regret Relocation, Face Depression – NiDCOM Boss Abike Dabiri-Erewa

Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has revealed that many Nigerians living abroad are dealing with regret and depression.

In a tweet on Saturday, Dabiri-Erewa said her agency has received numerous calls from Nigerians abroad who now feel disillusioned about their decision to relocate.

Her comments came in response to a viral post by UK-based lawyer Dele Olawale, who warned about the increasingly difficult immigration environment in the UK. Olawale advised Nigerians to think carefully before relocating, stressing that many migrants are experiencing depression, broken homes, and deep regret.

“The UK immigration atmosphere is becoming toxic,” Olawale tweeted. “Many depressed people. Many broken lives. Many stranded families. Think thrice before making the jump.”

Quoting his tweet, Dabiri-Erewa responded: “I hope this message resonates. We @nidcom_gov have been bombarded with many cases of regrets and depression. As @MoroOjomo rightly said, ‘The grass is not greener on the other side; it’s greener where you nurture it.’”

The comment comes amid a continued wave of emigration from Nigeria, popularly known as japa a Yoruba term meaning “to escape.” Economic hardship, inflation, and rising living costs have driven more Nigerians to seek better opportunities abroad.

In 2024, Dabiri-Erewa also warned that some Nigerians were relocating to countries with worse living conditions than Nigeria. She urged influencers and bloggers to help spread awareness about the realities of migration.

“Please help us appeal to Nigerians,” she said. “Some of the places people are rushing to are even worse than where they are leaving.”