Notice to SW Political and Religious Leaders

Yoruba population may be overwhelmed by other ethnic coming to SW in 50 years

By

Sola Olatunji

Let’s have a clinical survey of the population emerging in the southwest region of the country in the last few years. Available data is frightening! Yoruba and residents of South West have the lowest fertility rate in Nigeria – 3.9 children per woman, lowest household size 3.2, highest family planning demand 57.4%, highest literacy 81.7%, highest post-secondary 14.3%. One study using NDHS 2008, 2013, 2018 projects Yoruba fall 33.30% and other ethnic groups rise 249% in next 50 years in Southwest. Lagos and Ogun account for over 40% of Japa passport applications according to data available from the immigration services.

Population going into extinction is not by war but by womb and airport. Four factors are responsible. Firstly, Japa syndrome is Yoruba word for quickly fleeing difficult situation Born in Southwest, I am now eating Southwest. Nigeria is now one of the world countries with most emigrants – 1.24 million in 2017, 1.7 million now, with 16,000 health and skilled worker visas since 2021. Bulk is youths – Japa generation South-west is epicentre of skilled migration doctors, tech professionals, academics leaving en masse. Anglican Bishop of Ijebu South-West warned: Rate at which our youths are leaving country owing to frustration is alarming. We call on the government to urgently put a mechanism for redress before the country becomes impoverished.” When Yoruba professionals japa, they take womb. Child born abroad becomes Canadian, not Ogun. That is extinction by airport. The yoruba tribe is seen as the most civilised tribe in Nigeria, and they have since been overwhelmed by Western culture

1,2 children per family, which is being embraced by Yoruba tribe more than any tribe in Nigeria. Yoruba is the most educated, so Western culture says small family is sophisticated. One or two children is okay, quality, and travel.

Other tribes still embrace 4,5,6. Hausa/Fulani has the highest fertility rate in the Southwest region. Igbo majority of migrants to Southwest. Yoruba fertility stalled at 3.3 to 3.9 for 10 years, North West stalled at 4.4, South East at 4.1. The analysis is simple if your ambition is 1:2 while others embrace 5:6 inside your ancestral land. In 50 years,you become minority. That is extinction by culture. An unfavourable economic climate has also put most Yoruba families to cut their coats according to their size.

Yoruba professionals are the most travelled in Nigeria. Pride and poison. Most travelled means most qualified for Canada skilled visa, UK health visa, US tech visa. Moderately high net-worth, established roots, highly skilled middle class age 25-45. Most travelled means remittance economy – diaspora money props up complacent institutions. The government loves remittance, so it does not stop japa. Most travelled means children in diaspora marry diaspora. Grandchildren lost.

Now we are building mega chools, mega health centres, super highways, super airports. With population declining, which population will make use of these infrastructures in 30-50 years from now? Mega schools If Yoruba embraces 1,2 children and Japa takes 50%, who will sit in mega school in Ikenne, Ibadan in 2055? Japan has 9,000 schools closing from population decline. Eastern and Wedtern Europe are already faced with depopulation.

South Korea and Singapore are seriously hit. This is Western culture.the southwest has copied Hook Line and Sinker’s. Southwest mega schools will become mega ruins. Empty desks. Mega health centres. Needs patients and doctors. But doctors japa epicentre is Southwest. Who will work in the mega health centre? Who will be patient if the population is declining? Health centre without Yoruba children becomes mortuary for imported population. Super
highways: Lagos-Ibadan super highway, Sagamu super airport road, Lekki road. Super highway is for moving goods and people. If Youth japa because of no production, what goods will move? If we import toothpick when local can produce toothpick, what will super highway carry in 30 years?

Highway to where if ancestral owners vanished to Canada? Super airports Gateway cargo airport, Lekki airport. Super airport needs travellers. Yoruba professionals most travelled – they will travel out via your super airport and not return. Super airport becomes a one-way exit for extinction. You build an airport to export your own population. We need to resuscitate the socio-consciousness of policy makers to be mindful in the 21st century. Nigeria is probably the only land where you are not expected to say truth about public office holders. Truth is: that infrastructure without population is fraud. Southwest, beware. Before you build mega school, ask: Where are Yoruba children? Before mega health centre, ask: where are Yoruba doctors? Before super highway, ask: What goods are we producing?

Before super airport, ask: who will return? If you don’t answer in 30-50 years, mega schools will be used by the population that embraced children while Yoruba embraced 1,2. Which population will make use of these infrastructures ? Not your children who japa’ through your super airports.