Nigerians and relatives living abroad: Fake or true love

I came across a short video of a Nigerian lady residing abroad bitterly complaining about how her relatives always make calls to demand for financial assistance on the grounds that she has made it in life.  Like other videos, this video has also generated reactions from all walks of life. The questions people are asking […]

I came across a short video of a Nigerian lady residing abroad bitterly complaining about how her relatives always make calls to demand for financial assistance on the grounds that she has made it in life. 

Like other videos, this video has also generated reactions from all walks of life. The questions people are asking remains: who is at fault? Relatives dare need to ask their relatives living abroad or those abroad refusing to send money?

I will attempt to digest the issue briefly. 

Observably, the trend generally is that people in Nigeria assume that people living outside Nigeria have plenty of money and must support their people at home. There is no distinction between students and the working class. Once you are abroad, it is assumed that you have made it in life. 

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The reason is not far fetched from the fake and flamboyant lifestyle people living abroad either as students or work force display on social media. The quest to showcase every activity on social media handles of individuals is responsible for the continuous demand. 

Nigerians at home on the other hand are moved by the lifestyle and serenity of the environment they see daily judging  pictures and videos of their relatives on social media. This gives them an impression that they have attained a level of helping people at home, whose living condition is deteriorating daily. Refusal to help is considered acts of wickedness. 

Dear Nigerians residing in Nigeria, it is not a crime to ask. But when you ask, ask reasonably. Nigerians living abroad also have problems to solve. They also need help. Don’t add your burden to their burden. 

Nigerians living abroad should also take into account that they have relatives in dire need of help and should make it a duty to help them from time to time.

Zarah Lawan is a 300 level student of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri