“Japa Culture is Wrecking Relationships” – BBNaija’s Elozonam Opens Up on Emotional Toll

Image: DP

Big Brother Naija star Elozonam has candidly shared how Nigeria’s growing “japa” culture—the wave of mass emigration—has deeply affected his personal relationships.

Speaking on the Uncolored podcast, the reality star reflected on the emotional toll of watching loved ones and close connections relocate abroad in search of better opportunities.

Elozonam revealed that his bond with his twin brother and other siblings has weakened since they moved abroad, leaving him feeling disconnected: "The economic hardship in Nigeria is unbearable. It has affected a lot of my relationships."

He traced the shift back to 2018, starting with his former boss: "The first person that left my life was my boss when I was working a 9-5 job. We were close, but he moved to Canada with his family. After that, it’s like he opened the floodgate for everybody; people in my life started relocating abroad."

The reality star admitted that the constant departures have made him hesitant to form new friendships, knowing they could be short-lived: "The inherent effect of that is that you’re now too wary of making new friends because they might relocate abroad tomorrow. Everything is on the surface level now; you can’t make real friends because they can relocate anytime."

Elozonam’s remarks underscore the broader struggles faced by many Nigerians amid economic instability and limited opportunities: "Nigeria is not getting any better. We all know this."

Source: DP

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