Japada: Nigerian Family Returns To Nigeria After Gaining Citizenship In UK

In a surprising case of ‘Japada’, a Nigerian woman identified as Melissa on TikTok has gone viral after sharing a video of how she and her family moved back to Nigeria after spending six years in the United Kingdom, where they had already secured British citizenship.

In the video, Melissa documented the family’s relocation journey, from packing up their belongings in the UK to boarding their flight and finally settling into a new apartment in Nigeria.

Sharing her story, Melissa explained that the move was entirely voluntary and not due to immigration challenges, as many speculated online.

“We finally did it. My family and I packed up our bags and relocated from the UK to Nigeria,” she said.

“I know what you’re probably thinking, maybe we had immigration issues or the UK system finally caught up with us. But none of that happened. We are British citizens and Canada permanent residents.”

She emphasised that the decision to return to Nigeria, which she described as ‘Japada’ – a popular slang for reverse migration, which is opposite of ‘Japa’, which means immigration for greener pastures, was driven by choice and a desire for a fresh start in their home country.

“It wasn’t a forced move; we made a choice. We decided it was time to go home. Before leaving, we sold most of our household items, packed up what truly mattered, and said our final goodbye to a country we’ve called home for six years — a forever goodbye to the UK,” she added.

Melissa revealed that her family has rented out their UK properties and is focused on beginning a new chapter in Nigeria.

The video has sparked mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning the practicality of returning home given the country’s current economic and insecurity challenges.