During the festive season, Nigeria comes alive with emotional airport reunions, vibrant club scenes, and packed Afrobeats performances as Nigerians abroad return home, affectionately dubbed "I Just Got Back" (IJGB). While these IJGBs contribute to local businesses with their foreign currency and flaunt a mix of Western accents and Nigerian Pidgin, their presence casts a shadow over the experience of locals struggling with rising living costs.
In bustling cities like Lagos and Abuja, festive periods—especially the celebrated "Detty December"—make life increasingly challenging for residents, who find themselves sidelined as foreign visitors push prices up and draw attention to the country’s stark wealth divide. Reports indicate that more than 60% of Nigeria's wealth is held by just 10% of the population, with around 87 million citizens living below the poverty line.
With political and economic systems that seem to favor an elite minority, the notion of class in Nigeria goes beyond financial status, leading to visible social barriers. Many Nigerians feel pressured to leave and pursue better opportunities abroad—an exodus known as "japa," intensified in recent years among younger generations seeking success.
As a growing number of skilled professionals return home, they are often met with expectations of success and a culture that values appearances. Factors such as foreign accents can become signifiers of social status, even leading some locals to adopt faux accents to climb the social ladder. A visible disparity in lifestyle between the IJGBs and everyday Nigerians leads to scrutiny and questions regarding authenticity and economic realities.
In the midst of this, the return of these visitors is a complex narrative of aspiration, identity, and socioeconomic challenges, highlighting both the hope and the struggle faced by many in Nigeria today.
