A video shared by a Nigerian man who has moved to a Western country has ignited a heated conversation online, after he made a strong case for his fellow citizens to leave Nigeria.
The Viral Message from a Snowy Backdrop
In the clip, which was posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the man stands against a backdrop covered in snow. He delivers a passionate and explicit message, using his own perceived success as an example. The man emphatically stated that moving abroad is the singular path to transforming one's financial and social standing.
"Only abroad will make you from tenant to landlord, change your family history, so do it. You can do it," he declared. He then pointed to his car, which he was clearing of snow, as a symbol of his new life. "You see my car. I'm dusting snow off it... It's only abroad can change everything for your life permanent, change your family."
He concluded with a blunt piece of advice for those back home: "So, if you see opportunity, bro, run away from that f***ing country." The video was later reposted by the popular blog, Linda Ikeji.
Mixed Reactions and a Nationalist Backlash
The man's candid advice did not sit well with a significant portion of the online audience. While some agreed with his assessment of the challenges in Nigeria, many others pushed back strongly.
The core of the criticism centered on a question of national responsibility. Commenters asked what would become of Nigeria if every young, capable, and educated person took his advice and left. They argued that such a mass exodus, often referred to as the 'Japa' trend, would further cripple the nation's development.
The debate highlighted a deep divide in perspectives:
- Pro-relocation: Supporters of his view cited the harsh economic realities, insecurity, and lack of opportunities in Nigeria as valid reasons to seek a better life elsewhere.
- Pro-Nigeria: Critics accused him of discouraging nation-building and taking the easy way out, urging people to stay and contribute to solving the country's problems.
A Microcosm of a Wider Nigerian Dilemma
This incident is not an isolated one. It reflects a ongoing and painful national conversation about brain drain, economic survival, and patriotism. The man's claim that moving abroad is the only route from being a tenant to a landlord touches a raw nerve in a country where property ownership is a key marker of success, yet increasingly difficult for the average youth to achieve.
The video, shared on December 23, 2025, continues to resonate because it frames the 'Japa' phenomenon in stark, personal terms of transformation versus abandonment. It forces a uncomfortable question: is seeking personal prosperity abroad an act of smart ambition or a betrayal of one's homeland? The online community remains sharply split, with no easy answers in sight.
