Nigerian comedian and social commentator, Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Alibaba, has offered insight into the growing wave of Nigerians relocating abroad, commonly referred to as “japa.”
The Veteran rib cracker while speaking on the Outside the Box podcast aired on YouTube on Saturday, attributed the rising trend to frustration stemming from Nigeria’s decaying infrastructure, chronic insecurity, and the rising cost of living.
He recounted the story of a bank executive, an Assistant General Manager on Lagos Island, who struggled under the financial strain of maintaining a middle-class lifestyle. According to Alibaba, the man had three cars—one official vehicle covered by the bank and two personal cars—which he used to shuttle his wife and children to various destinations.
“Every month, he was spending N150,000 on fuel alone, and at home, he was burning through about a million naira on diesel to power his house,” Alibaba said, painting a picture of the unsustainable costs many Nigerians endure just to live decently.
Beyond the financial burdens, Alibaba stressed the psychological toll of insecurity and institutional failures.
“You could be in Nigeria and your child gets picked up by police just because he has dreadlocks. Or someone gets kidnapped and the perpetrators vanish without a trace. Would that happen overseas? No,” he argued.
While acknowledging that Nigeria still offers unique financial opportunities—such as political appointments or tax evasion—he questioned whether those gains are worth the accompanying risks.
“In Nigeria, someone could be appointed Commissioner for Finance overnight and their economic trajectory changes. But would you rather have that and live in fear every day?” he asked.
