How The UK Japa Wave Has Silently Destroyed Countless Marriages - Nigerian Lawyer Reveals

Bolanle Cole, a Nigerian lawyer based in the United Kingdom, has raised concerns over what he describes as the damaging impact of the UK “japa wave” on Nigerian marriages.

Cole shared his thoughts on his X (formerly Twitter) handle after news surfaced that a Nigerian cleric and his wife had separated just three years after relocating to the UK.

According to Cole, the couple had been married for 11 years in Nigeria and shared three children before deciding to move abroad. He expressed shock that a marriage that had endured for over a decade could unravel within such a short time of settling in the UK.

The lawyer questioned what exactly is happening in the United Kingdom that seems to strain or destabilize many Nigerian marriages. He noted that the situation is becoming increasingly common, as several couples who relocate in search of better opportunities later find their relationships under unexpected pressure.

Cole’s comments have sparked conversations online, with many Nigerians weighing in on the challenges of adjusting to a new environment, cultural differences, work pressures, financial strain, and shifting gender roles—all factors that may contribute to the rising number of marital breakdowns among immigrants.