Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communications, has stated that many Nigerians who relocated abroad in search of better opportunities are facing severe economic realities, despite holding university degrees and earning in foreign currencies.
Speaking during an appearance on The Morayo Show, Bwala argued that the actual living conditions for many emigrants, particularly those in the United Kingdom, contrast sharply with the expectations that prompted them to leave Nigeria. He noted that a significant number of graduates are currently working in sectors completely unrelated to their qualifications, such as 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.
Describing the structural realities of migration as exploitative, Bwala explained that high overhead expenses abroad frequently leave workers with minimal disposable income, regardless of seemingly high monthly revenues. He characterized the intense cycle of survival as modern-day slavery.
According to his breakdown, while many overseas workers earn between £2,600 and £2,800 monthly, the bulk of those funds is immediately consumed by essential living costs, including rent, utility bills, internet services, public 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 remarked.
Bwala maintained that individuals earning modest salaries within Nigeria often retain access to a resilient social safety net that does not exist for diaspora workers.
“That ₦60,000 earner can still get support from family and friends, while many abroad have nobody to fall back on,” he added