Senate to draw experience from India, others to tackle ‘Japa’ syndrome

From David Onuoja, Abuja

The Diaspora Senate Committee, led by Senator Natasha Akpoti-uduagha, has planned to uses India “Japa” solution for mitigating the mass migration from Nigeria to oversea countries which has become a problem.

The Committee said, the reversal of the Japa syndrome will be at the forefront of actions by its committee because the tide must be stopped.

Speaking during the meeting of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and nongovernmental Organisations (NGOs), held at the Upper Chamber of the Senate, the Chairperson, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), said, “This Committee will do this by collaborating with relevant stakeholders in the area of making Nigerians, particularly the youth, believe more in their country and than Japa.

Her word: “We are going to look into countries like India, Pakistan, and even Egypt in Africa, to see how they have grown their capacities and made their countries attractive for a larger percentage of the citizenry to stay.

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“The committee will start this process by getting the database of Nigerians in the diaspora, country by country, and also collaborate with various international organizations on areas of focus that can attract many of them back home.

“India is a very good example of reversing the Japa syndrome by being the ICT capacity hub of the world, with attendant jobs for its citizens”, she said.

Also speaking, Senator Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central), expressed hope in the ability of Senator Natasha to take the committee to greater heights in the area of tapping required resources from Nigerians in the diaspora and, at the same time, make the country attractive to those at home through the required collaborations.

According to him, “I knew that great success had come on board for this committee with Senator Natasha as Chairman.

“She has what it takes to break new ground and then galvanize all efforts toward tapping the potentials of Nigeria’s diaspora communities, and also collaborate with other stakeholders on reversing the Japa Syndrome”, he added.