A Nigerian Earning ₦60 Thousand Now is Better Off Than a Nigerian Who Japa Five Years Ago — Tinubu Aide, Bwala

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, has said that many Nigerians who relocated abroad in search of better opportunities are facing difficult economic realities despite possessing university degrees and professional qualifications.

Speaking during an appearance on The Morayo Show, Bwala argued that life outside Nigeria is often far more challenging than many people imagine, particularly for those who moved to countries such as the United Kingdom.

According to him, a significant number of Nigerians are employed in jobs that bear little or no relation to their educational backgrounds, with many degree holders working in care homes, warehouses and other low-skilled sectors to make ends meet.

“Some of you in Nigeria who think you are suffering, you’re better off than your colleagues that japa five years ago,” Bwala said.

He described the situation as a form of “modern-day slavery”, explaining that although many workers earn between £2,600 and £2,800 each month, the high cost of living leaves them with very little disposable income.

Bwala noted that expenses such as rent, transport, utility bills, internet services and feeding consume the bulk of their earnings, forcing many to take on two or three jobs just to survive.

“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 said.

Drawing a comparison with life in Nigeria, Bwala argued that someone earning a modest monthly salary of ₦60,000 could, in some cases, enjoy stronger family support and lower living expenses than Nigerians struggling alone overseas.

“That ₦60,000 earner can still get support from family and friends, while many abroad have nobody to fall back on,” he added.

The presidential aide also defended the social intervention programmes introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, saying the government has taken steps to improve access to healthcare for Nigerians.

He highlighted the 50 per cent subsidy on dialysis treatment in federal hospitals and the provision of free caesarean sections in public health facilities as part of the administration’s efforts to reduce the financial burden on citizens.

Bwala added that the government intends to expand healthcare support to cover more medical services and prescription drugs as available resources continue to improve