He couldn’t see a future in Nigeria after 2020. He still doesn’t.

Ben (33) decided to leave Nigeria permanently after experiencing the #EndSARS protests, but the country and its problems haven’t left him alone. In this week’s Abroad Life, he shares how he’s starting life over as a newly married man in the UK.

When did you move out of Nigeria, and where do you currently live?

We moved from Nigeria in November 2023 and currently live in the UK.

What motivated your decision to move?

Honestly, everything about Nigeria made us consider leaving. I had spent my entire life there, and after some experiences, I realized I didn’t see a future that aligned with the life I wanted. It wasn’t a career move because I was doing well in Nigeria. I was a finance manager in a multinational company, and my wife was also thriving in her field.

I was deeply involved in the EndSARS protests and the elections, which made me lose hope in the country’s direction. I couldn’t envision a future in Nigeria where I could live and raise a family the way I wanted.

You mentioned having a good job and a comfortable life in Nigeria. What did that life look like?

Life in Nigeria was comfortable to an extent. We lived in a rented apartment, had two cars, and had enough savings. I could afford my basic needs and some luxuries, but we still had limits.

For example, international vacations weren’t easy to afford consistently, and despite earning well, my lifestyle wasn’t on the same level as that of my counterparts in other countries. The cost of living was high, and keeping up with inflation was always a struggle. Even though I wasn’t suffering, I wasn’t enjoying life the way I wanted. So when my wife got recruited by one of the Big Four firms in the UK, we knew we had to move.

How different is your life in the UK compared to Nigeria?

The quality of life has improved significantly. One major difference is the convenience of basic things. In Nigeria, I spent hours in traffic, queued for fuel, and dealt with power outages, but now, I don’t worry about those things. My commute to work is a two-minute walk instead of the usual five hours in Lagos traffic.

The extra time has allowed me to focus on myself. I go to the gym, cook more, learn new skills, and even learn new languages. In Nigeria, I was constantly in survival mode, always chasing money because of how fast expenses were growing. Here, financial stability is more predictable. For example, my budget from 2024 to 2025 increased by less than 5%, something that’s now impossible in Nigeria.

Travelling is also easier. I visited a friend abroad, and the cost of my trip was cheaper than what my sister spent flying from Lagos to Abuja at the same time. That accessibility is life-changing.

Overall, life is less stressful, and my mental well-being has improved. Ironically, the only time I feel real stress now is when I read Nigerian news and get frustrated about how things are still going wrong.

Lmao, sorry. How’s married life going?

We moved about one or two months after getting married. The months leading up to our relocation were spent focused on visa applications and settling logistics, so we didn’t have much time to fully experience married life before leaving Nigeria.

Since moving, we’ve had more time together, which has been great for our marriage. In Nigeria, my job had long hours, so I didn’t get to spend as much time with my wife except on weekends, but here, we get to do things like walk to work together, have lunch together, and just generally spend more time with each other.

Thankfully, we have similar views on money, which has also made handling our finances much easier here. It’s not that we have a lot of money, but we plan and manage it well as a couple. That financial understanding has been a big advantage.

Did having a partner make the japa move easier for you?

Everyone’s journey is different. Some people migrate alone and have their partners join later, while others find partners after relocating.

Moving with my wife made the transition much easier. Coming from Nigeria, where we had lived all our lives, adjusting to a new country was a huge learning curve. If I had moved alone, I think I would have struggled more. Having someone to share both the good and tough moments with made a big difference.

Also, we moved right before winter, and adjusting to five or six months of cold was hard. I can’t imagine going through that alone. So, if someone is already in a committed relationship, I’d strongly recommend moving together, not just for the sake of migration, but if the relationship is already serious, just do it.

Is there anything you miss about Nigeria?

Definitely the food. There is no African restaurant where we live. At one point, my wife and I had to travel to London just to eat Nigerian food. It’s an adjustment not having access to familiar meals. Entertainment is also another thing I miss. In Nigeria, Friday nights meant stopping at a lounge, eating grilled fish, and enjoying music. Here, we struggle to find places that match that vibe. It took time to find new ways to have fun. I also miss having family around.

On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you in the UK?

Ten. Life is beautiful here.

Source: https://www.zikoko.com/citizen/i-escaped-nigeria-after-endsars/
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What do you all think about this?
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Okay
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Interesting
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Nice write up
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Nice 👍👍
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Nice one

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