Presidential media aide Daniel Bwala has sparked fresh debate after saying that a Nigerian earning ₦60,000 monthly today is better off than someone who “japa’d” five years ago.
“Go and verify,” Bwala said bluntly during a television appearance on Tuesday. “A Nigerian earning 60k now is better off than a Nigerian who japa five years ago.”
Bwala’s comment was in response to questions about migration, cost of living, and whether the federal government’s economic reforms are working for ordinary citizens.
According to him, many Nigerians who relocated abroad between 2020 and 2021 are now struggling with higher rent, bills, taxes, and weak job markets. “They left thinking dollars would solve everything. Today, that same dollar is eaten up by rent, insurance, transport, and family pressure back home,” he said.
He contrasted that with a Nigerian earning ₦60,000 locally. “At home, you have family support, cheaper food if you manage well, no visa issues, no deportation fear, and you are building in naira. The pressure abroad is real. Go and verify,” Bwala insisted.
The statement immediately went viral. Critics said comparing ₦60,000 in Nigeria to earnings abroad ignores inflation, insecurity, and limited opportunities. Many shared stories of “japa” migrants sending money home and living more comfortably than they did in Nigeria.
Supporters, however, said Bwala was highlighting a trend they have seen: some returnees struggling to reintegrate, and others abroad working multiple jobs just to survive. “Japa is not automatic success,” one X user wrote. “A lot of people are quiet-suffering abroad.”
Nigeria has seen large-scale emigration since 2020, with health workers, tech professionals, and graduates moving to the UK, Canada, US, and Europe. The Central Bank has also reported rising diaspora remittances, which many families rely on.
Economists note that purchasing power, exchange rates, and living costs are very different across countries, making direct comparisons difficult. What ₦60,000 can buy in Abuja is not the same as what $1,200 can cover in London or Toronto after rent and taxes.
Bwala urged citizens to assess their situation realistically instead of chasing trends. “If you have a job here, build here. If you must go, go with a plan. Don’t assume grass is greener because someone posted airport pictures,” he said….See More
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