Senate President Godswill Akpabio has lamented the increasing number of Nigerians fleeing the country, claiming that being a bona fide Nigerian like him will be a great pull in preventing citizens’ exodus. 

Mr Akpabio suggested being more patriotic than Nigerians emigrating to other countries, citing financial gains as a major reason for those exiting Africa’s most populous nation.

Mr Akpabio, a former governor in one of Nigeria’s oil-rich states, is considered a beneficiary of the nation’s corrupt system.

Mr Akpabio made a patriotic call for Nigerians to stop fleeing the country during the Senate’s adoption of a motion, ‘Urgent Need to address challenges of increasing cases of brain drain in the Nigerian University System’, sponsored by Anthony Ani (APC-Ebonyi)  at plenary on Tuesday.

“The country is losing its expertise. If they acquired those expertise and returned to Nigeria, it would have been better,” Mr Akpabio said.

Lamenting brain drain due to the exodus of Nigerians abroad, Mr Akpabio said, “The brain drain is a big problem, not just in the educational sector, particularly in the health sector – it is affecting us a lot.”

He added, “I also think the conditions of service are quite responsible. I believe people should place love for their country above financial gains. That is why many of us choose to remain here.”

In recent years, heightened economic hardships, poverty and unemployment have seen many Nigerians flee the country for greener pastures abroad.

In August, when citizens hit the streets in protest over unprecedented economic hardships characterised by inflation and the rising cost of living, Mr Akpabio said disgruntled Nigerians could continue to protest while he and other pro-government citizens will continue to eat from President Bola Tinubu’s government. 

“We are not interested in regime change. Let us own this government. Those who want to protest can protest. But let us be there eating,” Mr Akpabio had stated.