Remote work promised freedom. For many Nigerians, it has delivered something else: loneliness, stress, and a creeping sense of isolation. A new Gallup report reveals that while fully remote employees show higher engagement at work, they are less likely to thrive in their overall well-being compared to hybrid or on-site colleagues.
The study highlights a troubling reality: fully remote workers report higher levels of loneliness, sadness, stress, and even anger. For Nigerians, where community and connection are woven into everyday life, these findings strike a familiar chord.
Gallup’s numbers are stark. Remote employees are more likely to report feeling stressed the previous day than their on-site counterparts. Even when income levels are considered, the emotional toll persists. The report explains that physical distance often creates mental distance too, stripping away the camaraderie of office banter, shared meals, and team support. “Spending time with others plays a key role in positive life evaluations. For example, sharing meals with others is as strong an indicator of well-being as income,” Gallup notes.
To understand the local impact, Fairview Africa spoke with Nigerians about how remote work is reshaping their daily lives.
Abdullahi, an Abuja resident, described the weight of working from home:
“Remote work is too tasky. They do the work alone, but going to the office, you will see people to assist. People doing remote work are always alone, stressed, and tired.”
Another resident, who asked not to be named, spoke of how remote work distorts natural rhythms:
“God created time for work and rest. Most of these remote workers, some spend the whole night working after they have worked in the day. You don’t cheat nature, and when you do, you will pay. It affects their health negatively, but they don’t see it. They do it in the name of working hard.”
A third resident added:
“Remote workers are always stressed out, bored; they don’t have people to speak with. They need rest, at least some hours to cool their head and relax.”
These accounts echo Gallup’s warnings: the lack of boundaries between work and rest, paired with social isolation, compounds stress and burnout.
One of remote work’s biggest appeals is autonomy. But Gallup warns that too much independence, without structure, can backfire. “Managing time independently and coordinating work with others can become difficult without clear boundaries,” the study explains.
In Nigeria, this challenge is magnified by unreliable internet, frequent power outages, and pressure to remain constantly available online. Many workers also juggle household expectations and costs of running generators, making remote work a grind rather than a perk. The cognitive load of balancing these pressures leaves many exhausted.
Globally, Gallup reports that 57 percent of fully remote workers are actively looking or passively watching for new job opportunities. But when workers are both engaged and thriving, that number drops to 38 percent a clear sign that well-being drives retention.
For Nigeria, where economic struggles and a fast-growing tech sector collide, these findings raise urgent questions about fairness and equality in the workplace. Remote work is praised for flexibility, but if left unmanaged, it deepens mental health challenges.
Employers, Gallup suggests, must step in:
“By supporting both engagement and well-being, employers can protect their remote workforce. Leaders should embrace the advantages of remote work while addressing the psychological effects of working alone by encouraging social interactions.”
Nigerians echoed this call. Abdullahi proposed regular meet-ups or virtual hangouts to mimic the office’s social vibe. The second resident stressed setting firm work hours to curb overwork. The third suggested mandatory breaks and wellness checks: “Companies should ask how their workers are doing, not just about deadlines. Give them time to rest and talk to someone.”
Remote work is here to stay, but its hidden toll is too real to ignore. The promise of flexibility should not come at the cost of mental health. Without deliberate steps to create virtual spaces for connection, enforce boundaries between work and rest, and foster a culture of care, Nigeria’s remote revolution risks becoming a silent mental health crisis.
Employers must act now because the future of work should empower, not isolate.
