JAPA SLOGAN IN NIGERIA: SPATE OF PERENNIAL MIGRATION IN THE POSTCOLONIAL AFRICAN STATES

Abstract

The trending slogan (JAPA) in Yoruba language of the south-west Nigeria, with the "meaning to escape or flee’’, is increasingly becoming a disturbing trend. In the early 60s and 70s until late 80s, those who used to travel abroad from Nigeria and other African countries were always eager to return home because fantastic offers were waiting for them. Of course, migration is considered as a feat to someone's life. Especially, to some of the people from the third world, including Africa. Where barely every basic sector is rated almost dead or horribly functional. Thus, apparently makes Japa as fondly called, become very imperative for some of the vulnerable residents. They do, regardless of whatever may likely be negative consequences of embarking on such trips, their concerns are just to depart the shores of the continent first. Japa or any form of illegal migration, indeed poses a very serious danger. This study adopts a qualitative research design, utilising a case study approach. Hence, we explore three theoretical frameworks, Realist, Modernization and Dependency theories, to give the in-depth analysis of whether we shall raise research questions like what has gone wrong. Or why has ‘’Japa and migrating to the western world in the recent time now become a prevalent development in Nigeria and Africa at large? No doubt, the implication has further deepened and impacted on the socio-economic development of Nigeria, through the ‘’brain-drain’’ as professionals across all sectors, including the academia, are consistently departing the country and other African countries for purported greener pastures in Europe, America, Australia and other developed world.