A Nigerian man, Arinze Odira, has sparked reactions on the X platform after questioning why Nigerians continue to relocate to Canada despite the North American country having a higher unemployment rate than Nigeria.
His comments come after the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced that Nigeria’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.3% in Q2 2024, down from 5.3% in Q1 2024. In contrast, Statistics Canada reported in October that Canada’s unemployment rate stood at 6.5%, with little job growth from the previous month.
Pointing out the seemingly better unemployment figures in Nigeria, Arinze humorously suggested that Nigerians might be moving to Canada just to experience its snowy weather.
The post has sparked debates online, with some users defending the move, citing better living conditions, infrastructure, and opportunities in Canada despite its higher unemployment rate. Others found humor in the suggestion, acknowledging that the allure of snow may not be the primary reason for relocating.
The comparison has reignited conversations around the factors driving migration, beyond employment statistics, including quality of life, education, and healthcare.