Oluwatobi, a postgraduate student at the University of Ilorin, always starts the year hoping for better conditions and cost of living in Nigeria. But as time has passed, he feels things have only gotten worse, making him consider moving abroad for the first time seriously.
“I always start the year with hope, but things only seem to get worse. I used to believe in Nigeria’s potential, but now, I’m not so sure,” Oluwatobi said. He feels he must find opportunities in another country.
He’s not alone in feeling this way. A 2021 survey by the Africa Polling Institute found that 70% of Nigerians would leave the country if they could, mainly in search of better opportunities. But leaving Nigeria has become harder and more expensive than ever.
The cost of moving abroad has skyrocketed. A travel agent, Kayode Olusoji, mentioned that what used to cost a family about N6 million to N7 million for a certain migration path now costs between N38 million and N41 million due to the falling value of the Nigerian naira against foreign currencies. In 2019, the exchange rate was around N360 to a dollar, but it has jumped to N1617 to a dollar.
Oluwadamilare, another Nigerian, shared that the cost to move abroad has doubled from what he was told last year, making him and his friends feel like their savings are worthless. Oluwatobi echoed this sentiment, noting his increasing expenses and dwindling savings make the dream of moving abroad seem out of reach.
Kikiowo, a law student, has dreamt of moving abroad since 2019, driven by a desire to live in a country with better governance and quality of life. However, the rising cost of living in Nigeria and the increasing expense of moving abroad are making it difficult for him to plan for his future.
He hopes for a fully funded scholarship to pursue his master’s degree abroad without the burden of additional jobs to save money. Shallom Ekene, a political science graduate, also sees moving abroad as a dream due to better living conditions but is discouraged by the high cost of emigration.
Despite the financial challenges, the number of people consulting with travel agents like Kayode has not decreased, showing that many still hold onto the dream of leaving, despite the obstacles. Oluwatobi remains determined to emigrate, even if it means borrowing money, showing the strong desire among many Nigerians to seek a better life elsewhere.