Amaechi: Those planning ‘japa’ can’t get opportunities abroad like in Nigeria

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said Nigeria is a country abound with numerous opportunities where an ordinary citizen can become a minister or governor.

He said that other countries abroad can guarantee high-paying jobs but opportunities in them are with slim chances.

The former governor disclosed this when giving advice to Nigerians on the backdrop of the mass exodus to the developed world, a syndrome termed ‘japa’.

Amaechi made this known in an exclusive interview he had with Arise TV.

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He said, “I’ve always discouraged those who want to leave the country. I said 9 to 5 life, yes, you can always get 9 to 5 job anywhere outside the country. But you can never get the opportunities we get in Nigeria.

“You can just wake up one day and become a minister in Nigeria. You can just wake up one day and become governor. It just happens. I don’t know how work in other countries operates. But, if you are looking for opportunities, please stay back in Nigeria. If you’re looking for 9 to 5, safety and all that (you can relocate abroad).

“A friend of mine said ‘What is you are waiting for opportunities and get killed?’ Well, that’s your destiny. But opportunities are here.”

Amaechi also said he has not been participating in political activities, but rather concentrating on personal life since the exit from office.

He served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007. He then became the governor from 2007 to 2015.

From 2015 to 2022, he served as the Transport Minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari, having being the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign earlier.

He resigned as the minister in 2022 to contest the APC presidential primaries where came second behind President Bola Tinubu.