From Japa to Early Grave: How Overwork and Sleeplessness Are Killing Migrants in the UK

On 6 February 2026, Ghanaian nurse Richmond Mensah died in his sleep before a night shift at 33. He left a wife and 14-month-old daughter behind. Another colleague in Essex, Samuel Acquah, also passed away in 2025 under similar circumstances. These cases are not isolated. Sleeplessness has become an epidemic in the UK. One in three adults reports insomnia symptoms. High living costs, financial worries and round-the-clock shifts push people into chronic sleep deprivation. Sleep loss affects every part of the body. It impairs memory, mood and immune function. It can raise blood pressure and even weaken genetic health. Adults need seven to nine hours of rest each night to stay well. Many Nigerians abroad juggle physically demanding jobs, night shifts, family duties and bills. From my observation, some turn to coffee, energy drinks or even pills to cope. This cycle of stress and exhaustion can lead to an early grave. As MI Abaga warns, “Don’t spend your life to buy money, because you can’t spend your money to buy life.”

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