President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime says Nigerians are free to flee the country for greener pastures “by all means.”

“You see, the truth is that if you have an opportunity to better yourself in any part of the world, there is nothing wrong with it,” said presidential spokesman Femi Adesina. “If you think migrating legally is good for you, all well and good. By all means, go!” 

Asked in a Channels TV interview aired on Sunday why the number of Nigerians leaving the country under the APC regime is increasing, Mr Adesina said, “It would be simplistic to say that.”

The media aide added, “You cannot now say that because people are leaving, then it is a sign that something is fundamentally wrong.”

The regime’s spokesman claimed that “the average Nigerian had always wanted to leave.” 

He added, “And it is not just in Nigeria. It is in most countries of the world, particularly in the third world. They always believe that it is greener on the other side.”

In November, the Nigeria Immigration Service raised the alarm about an increasing number of Nigerians fleeing the country under the Buhari regime, describing it as a “worrisome phenomenon.”

In August, junior health minister Joseph Ekumankama lamented the brain drain in the health sector due to Nigerian doctors leaving the country for greener pastures abroad.

“The greatest challenge facing the sector presently is the doctors and nurses leaving the country. But I want to rather encourage them to stay back, seeing the effort the government is putting,” Mr Ekumankama said.