Senate President Godswill Akpabio has expressed his admiration for Nigeria and called on fellow citizens to emulate him.

He said this while raising concerns over the large number of Nigerians fleeing the country. Akpabio urged Nigerians to be patriotic and stop fleeing the country.

He made this call at the Senate’s adoption of a motion, ‘Urgent Need to Address Challenges of Increasing Cases of Brain Drain in the Nigerian University System’, sponsored by Anthony Ani (APC-Ebonyi), at plenary on Tuesday.

“The country is losing its expertise. If they acquired that expertise and returned to Nigeria, it would have been better.

“The brain drain is a big problem, not just in the educational sector, particularly in the health sector, it is affecting us a lot.”

“I also think the conditions of service are quite responsible. I believe people should place love for their country above financial gains. That is why many of us choose to remain here.”

The country is currently faced with heightened economic hardships; poverty and unemployment have seen many Nigerians flee the country for greener pastures abroad.

Recall that in August, Akpabio criticized disgruntled Nigerians who took to the streets to protest over unprecedented economic hardships characterised by inflation and the rising cost of living.

He asked that they continue the protest while pro-government citizens will continue to eat.

“We are not interested in regime change. Let us own this government. Those who want to protest can protest. But let us be there eating,” Akpabio had stated.