Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communications, has said that many Nigerians who relocated abroad in search of better opportunities are grappling with difficult economic realities despite earning in foreign currencies.
Speaking during an appearance on The Morayo Show, Bwala argued that the living conditions of many emigrants, particularly those in the United Kingdom, differ significantly from the expectations that drove them to leave Nigeria.
According to him, many Nigerian graduates abroad are employed in sectors unrelated to their academic qualifications, including care homes and warehouses.
“Some of you in Nigeria who think you are suffering, you’re better off than your colleagues that japa five years ago,” Bwala said.
He described the economic realities facing many migrants as exploitative, noting that high living costs abroad often leave workers with little disposable income despite earning what appear to be attractive salaries.
Bwala said many overseas workers earn between £2,600 and £2,800 per month, but a large portion of their income is spent on rent, utility bills, internet services, transportation and food.
“At the end of the day, what you are left with is not much. So you are forced to do two or three jobs,” he said.
The presidential aide further argued that many people earning modest incomes in Nigeria still benefit from strong family and community support systems that are often unavailable to Nigerians living abroad.
“That ₦60,000 earner can still get support from family and friends, while many abroad have nobody to fall back on,” he added.
