Decoding Minister Tuggar’s Smart Play on Japa Migration By Umar Farouk Bala
Once upon a time (and even till this moment) in Nigeria, the term “japa” was whispered with frustration. It was the anthem of dreams deferred, the desperate chorus of a generation packing bags with degrees and determination. To many, it symbolised brain drain, an alarming exodus of the nation’s brightest minds.
Doctors fled overstretched hospitals. Engineers swapped power-starved factories for foreign firms. Nurses, coders, creatives, and scholars streamed through departure gates, not because they wanted to, but because they felt they had no choice.
But what if this story could be told differently? What if “japa” did not mean loss, but leverage?
What if migration, when structured and state-driven, became Nigeria’s boldest foreign policy tool—its most strategic export in a world hungry for talent?
That is the audacious reimagination being championed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar. During high-level bilateral talks in Berlin with Germany’s Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, Tuggar pulled no punches. “Nigeria’s focus is not to export people, but to export talent,” he declared, repositioning the narrative with clarity and purpose.
It was not just rhetoric. It was a declaration of intent—one rooted in realism, dignity, and vision.
In recent decades, Nigeria’s population boom has often been framed as a crisis—millions of unemployed youth, restive graduates, and underutilised professionals. But Tuggar, a seasoned diplomat and pan-African thinker, sees what many overlook: an opportunity. With over 220 million people today and projections to reach 400 million by 2050, Nigeria is not a demographic burden—it is a human capital powerhouse.
In contrast, Germany and much of the European Union are ageing rapidly. Their economies are growing, but their populations are shrinking. Skilled workers are in short supply. The healthcare sector is strained. Industries need youthful energy and digital fluency. And here lies the sweet spot: Nigeria has the talent. Europe has the demand. But rather than allow this synergy to be driven by desperation and illegal migration, Tuggar is advocating a deliberate, legal, and bilateral approach—one built on structured migration frameworks.
Wadephul, on his part, was not only receptive—he was visibly enthusiastic. In his remarks, he underscored the immense potential of deepening Nigeria-Germany cooperation in areas ranging from trade to energy, and critically, talent mobility. “There are tremendous opportunities for cooperation in critical minerals, energy transition, and private sector engagement,” he said.
Germany is not engaging Nigeria as a donor to a recipient, or a helper to the helpless. Instead, this is a partnership of equals—countries aligned by mutual needs and mutual respect. Tuggar and Wadephul explored ways to deepen ties through vocational training, skills alignment, and creating clear migration pathways that respect both sovereignty and opportunity.
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The German-Nigerian Energy Partnership, first established in 2008 and reinforced in 2021 with the establishment of a hydrogen office in Abuja, is a model for how both nations can co-create value. Now, the goal is to replicate that kind of synergy across labour mobility, youth empowerment, and bilateral investment.
In Tuggar’s reimagined foreign policy, talent is no longer an accidental export—it is a deliberate asset. He understands that when migration is disorganised, countries lose. But when it is intentional and reciprocal, nations evolve.
Skilled Nigerians working in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, or Frankfurt are not simply filling job gaps—they are building transnational bridges, sending remittances, acquiring new skills, and expanding Nigeria’s global footprint.
This is not just migration; this is strategic diplomacy. It is Nigeria playing a long game.
This model also challenges the long-held stereotype that Africa has little to offer. On the contrary, Africa—and Nigeria in particular—is poised to offer what the world increasingly lacks: vibrant youth, digital fluency, cultural competence, and intellectual adaptability.
Tuggar’s engagements in Berlin were more than bilateral courtesy calls. They were part of a broader vision to reposition Nigeria as a confident, capable actor on the world stage. He also met with members of the German parliament, leading development officials, and Professor Lanz Rolla, the visionary founder of the Berlin Global Dialogue.
In recognition of his leadership and Nigeria’s rising relevance, Tuggar was formally invited to address the 2025 edition of the Berlin Global Dialogue. This invitation is not symbolic fluff—it is strategic positioning. It affirms Nigeria’s emerging role in shaping global conversations around governance, sustainability, and migration.
For decades, Africa has been spoken about in international circles. Tuggar wants Nigeria to be one of those doing the speaking—and leading.
It is time for Nigerians—at home and abroad—to stop seeing migration as a tragedy. It is not always about escape. Sometimes, it is about expansion. Sometimes, it is not about abandoning your country, but advancing it on a new front.
We must build a system that equips young Nigerians not only to compete globally but to succeed with pride, carry their identity with honour, and link their personal success to national progress.
The Nigerian abroad is not a lost citizen. They are a transnational asset.
To make this work, the government must invest in education, digital skills, and vocational training. It must also reform its diplomatic missions to support legal migration pathways and protect citizens abroad from exploitation and discrimination.
But beyond government, every Nigerian must recalibrate their thinking. “Japa” is no longer a shameful term. In the hands of visionary leaders like Tuggar, it becomes a strategy—a vehicle of national significance.
Let us not weep at the sight of one-way tickets. Let us train better minds, create stronger bridges, and build a global Nigerian ecosystem that benefits all.
Nigeria is not losing its people. It is gaining ground.
And as this new chapter unfolds—rooted in dignity, driven by diplomacy—we may yet find that the planes that once carried away our dreams are now returning, not just with passengers, but with purpose.
Umar Farouk Bala is a serving NYSC corps member serving at PRNigeria Centre Abuja. He can be reached at: [email protected]
