Japa trend hits 30% of Lagos workers as they refuse to return after going for sponsored training abroad

The Lagos State Government has raised alarm over the increasing rate of civil servants absconding after being sponsored for training abroad.

According to the state, 30 percent of such beneficiaries have failed to return to Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, made this known during a press briefing on Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

Responding to questions from journalists, Ayantayo attributed the troubling trend to the growing ‘Japa’ phenomenon, a term used to describe the mass migration of Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad.

“While 70% returned, 30% failed to come back,” Ayantayo said.

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According to him, 23,420 staff members have benefitted from various training interventions between May 2022 and December 2024.

These included over 185 training programmes designed to improve public service delivery across skill levels, with a focus on leadership, regulatory compliance, and sector-specific efficiency.