Moving cities can be a risky decision, especially when it means leaving behind a familiar life. But for the Nigerians in this piece, the decision was necessary to get a better shot at the life they want.
They moved across Nigeria in search of better opportunities, a chance to start over, and ultimately, a better financial future. Here鈥檚 how that went for them.
鈥淚 moved to Lagos thinking I鈥檇 make more money. I ended up poorer鈥 鈥 Obinna*, 56, M
In the early 2000s, I left Enugu for Lagos because everyone around me said there was money there. I had a small phone and gadget business and thought a larger market would mean higher profits.
I arrived with 鈧500k, which I used to rent a shop and apartment. Within six months, I made more sales than I ever had in Enugu, but somehow I had less money. To this day, I honestly can鈥檛 explain what happened. I was working hard but getting poorer and falling into debt.
On top of that, my family back home were expecting money. I eventually had to move back to Enugu. It took me a year to recover. Enugu didn鈥檛 bring me as much money as I hoped to make in Lagos, but I鈥檝e lived a good life over the years. Not everyone鈥檚 destiny is tied to Lagos.
鈥淚 ran away from Benin because my father was physically abusive鈥 鈥 Itohan*, 28, F
I was 21 when I left Benin City for Lagos in 2019. Actually, I ran away. My father had always been violent, but it got worse after I told him I鈥檇 no longer give him money from my hairdressing income. I also couldn鈥檛 leave home because I was broke.
One night, he beat me so badly that I ran out and slept on the street. The next morning, I used my last 鈧15k and travelled to Lagos to stay with a friend. I didn鈥檛 take one change of clothing. Every day for two months, I walked around looking for a job. At night, I slept on the floor of my friend鈥檚 self-contained apartment. I eventually got a factory job paying 鈧35k/month. Around the same time, I fell out with my friend and had to start sleeping at the factory.
In all of this, I still occasionally sent money home to my mum so she could escape, too. She never left. On the bright side, my financial situation is better now. I have a better job, a hairdressing side hustle, and my own apartment. So, it all worked out in the end.
鈥淢oving to Uyo changed my finances鈥 鈥 Donald*, 30, M
I was a photographer in Lagos with a very unstable income because my earnings depended on events. I wanted to own my own studio to expand my services, but I was never able to save. All my money went to transportation, food and rent. So, I took a risk and moved to Uyo to live with my aunt temporarily and try to save money. I also freelanced with a studio and occasionally travelled to Lagos for events.
Two years later, I have my own studio and an assistant. I earn less than my counterparts in Lagos, but I have lower expenses and can finally save. I wouldn鈥檛 say moving to a cheaper city automatically makes you financially successful, but it bought me time, and that was what I needed.
罢丑别听聽is returning on August 22, 2026, in Lagos! Come learn from finance experts and industry leaders, and partake in unfiltered conversations about building wealth and diversifying your income stream in a country like Nigeria.聽Real stories, expert advice you can actually use, and a community ready to build wealth together.聽.
鈥淚 moved to Abuja to escape debt鈥 鈥 Precious*, 31, F
In 2024, I borrowed 鈧700k from a microfinance bank in Lagos to save my failing clothing business. The business still failed, and worse, I didn鈥檛 have money to pay back my debt.
Soon, the bank started calling me daily and camping around my house to threaten me. I had to change my phone number and run to Abuja to hide with extended family. Thankfully, I got a job three months after my move and gradually repaid my debt (which had grown to 鈧1.6m) throughout 2025 and early 2026. My uncle paid half of it, though.
The plan was to move back after settling my debt, but I recently landed a 鈧800k/month job here. Things are finally looking up, so I might as well just stay here for good.
鈥淚 left Calabar to become a nanny in Lagos鈥 鈥 Gina*, 27, F
After graduating from uni in Calabar, I spent two years job-hunting with no luck. In 2023, someone told me about a nanny position in Lagos. I was embarrassed because I had a degree and thought people would see it as a step backwards. But the salary was 鈧100k, and it came with accommodation.
My friends laughed at me when they found out why I moved, but that job ended up changing my life. The family was nice to me, and when they were about to relocate abroad in 2025, they recommended me for an administrative position at a school. I earn 鈧200k/month now. I鈥檓 not where I hope to be yet, but if I hadn鈥檛 moved, who knows whether I wouldn鈥檛 still be job-hunting in Calabar.
鈥淚 regret moving my business to Ogun State鈥 鈥 Kemi*, 31, F
I moved my tailoring business from Lagos to Ogun State in 2019 because I realised I was spending too much just to keep it running. All my profit went to rent and transportation. I had a family house in Ogun state, and I thought it would be cheaper to run the business there and help me keep more money.
It didn鈥檛 work out like that. The customers in Ogun State weren鈥檛 willing to pay more than 鈧5k per outfit. For context, I was charging up to 鈧40k in Lagos. To make things worse, the lockdown happened the following year, and I didn鈥檛 earn anything for months.
Things are a bit more stable now, but I鈥檝e been trying for years to move back to Lagos, and nothing is working. Lagos rent is even crazier now, and I can鈥檛 afford it. I regret moving.
If you enjoyed reading this, 麻豆视频 Life鈥檚 A Happy Ending explores that same desire for a better life, and the difficult choices that can come with pursuing it.
Watch here:
