Lagos Employer Sparks Debate After Saying He Prays UK Deports Former Staff to Rebuild Local Workforce!
Reported by Mustapha Labake Omowumi (Journalist)| Sele Media Africa
A Lagos-based businessman, Keji Giwa, has ignited widespread debate on social media after publicly stating that he prays the United Kingdom deports his former employees so they can return to Nigeria and strengthen his workforce.
Giwa’s remarks, shared in a viral post, have drawn mixed reactions reflecting the broader national conversation about “japa,” the ongoing migration wave of Nigerian professionals seeking better economic opportunities abroad.
Migration and Workforce Pressures
Nigeria has witnessed a significant outflow of skilled workers in recent years, particularly to the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. The trend has affected critical sectors including healthcare, technology, education, and small- and medium-scale enterprises.
According to reporting by the BBC News and The Guardian, Nigerian migration to the UK has surged since the introduction of more flexible visa pathways, including health and care worker visas and skilled worker routes. The migration wave has been linked to economic instability, inflation, currency depreciation, and concerns over long-term career prospects in Nigeria.
The The Cable and Punch Newspapers have also reported extensively on how Nigerian employers especially in the healthcare and technology sectors are struggling to retain talent amid aggressive international recruitment.
Public Reaction and Ethical Questions
Giwa’s comment has been interpreted by some as a sarcastic expression of frustration over losing trained staff to foreign labour markets. Others, however, view the statement as insensitive, arguing that deportation carries serious humanitarian and legal implications.
Under UK immigration rules, deportation typically follows visa violations, criminal convictions, or failed asylum claims processes governed by strict legal frameworks administered by the UK Home Office. Advocating deportation, critics argue, overlooks the personal and professional risks faced by migrants abroad.
On Nigerian social media platforms, reactions ranged from humour and satire to strong criticism, with many users emphasizing that migration decisions are often driven by systemic economic realities rather than personal disloyalty to employers.
The Larger Economic Context
Nigeria’s labour migration trend is part of a broader continental pattern, with skilled professionals seeking stability, improved working conditions, and stronger currencies abroad. While remittances from the diaspora remain a vital source of foreign exchange contributing billions of dollars annually to Nigeria’s economy domestic businesses continue to grapple with talent shortages.
Economists argue that long-term solutions lie in structural reforms, improved working conditions, competitive wages, and economic stability rather than reliance on forced returns or restrictive migration policies.
As debate continues, Giwa’s remarks underscore the tension between private-sector workforce needs and individual aspirations in an increasingly globalised labour market.
Sources
BBC News
The Guardian
The Cable
Punch Newspapers
Mustapha Labake Omowumi is a journalist from Ibadan, Oyo State, and a graduate of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Mathematics. He demonstrates a strong commitment to professional journalism, with a keen interest in writing and storytelling, guided by principles of self-discipline, accuracy, and trustworthiness.
About The Author
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