ENUGU, Nigeria – The Nigerian Immigration Service, (NIS) has described as a worrisome phenomenon the alarming rate Nigerians are leaving the country in search of greener pastures abroad.

Comptroller of Immigration Service, (NIS) in Enugu State, Mr. Joachim Olumba, stated this at a stakeholders sensitization campaign on the scourge of Smuggling of Migrants, (SOM) in Enugu on Thursday.

“Indeed, this program couldn’t have been held at a more appropriate time, considering the alarming rate at which, not only the youth, but older generation of Nigerians exhibit interest to leave the country.

This is creating a worrisome phenomenon which has come to be popularly known in local parlance as ‘Japa'”, he said.

Olumba said the appetite to jet out of the country was usually driven largely by social, economic and security concerns, pointing out that Nigerians, especially the youth were leaving the shores of the country in their droves.

“To many, what is paramount is to achieve the goal of migrating from the country and not the means of reaching their destinations. Whether they are smuggled or trafficked, or they even get to leave the country by means of a stowaway, does not really matter to them.

“The ultimate interest is to relocate to foreign lands. As far as the vast majority are concerned, the end will eventually justify the means,” he added.