The term “Japa,” which originally signifies “to run” in Yoruba, has now become closely associated with the significant increase in emigration from Nigeria and other African nations to developed countries. With a migration rate of -0.267 in 2024, an estimated 61,283 of 226 million Nigerians will migrate from Nigeria to developed countries. While some argue that this emigration has negative consequences for Nigeria, such as brain drain, there is not enough data to support this claim. Conversely, data shows that Nigerians living abroad (in diaspora) contribute significantly to Nigeria's economy, primarily through remittances, which have averaged 5% of Nigeria's GDP over the past 10 years.

This report assesses the impact of Japa in Nigeria’s development.