According to senior presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala, despite their academic credentials, many Nigerians who moved to the UK in pursuit of better opportunities are now dealing with difficult economic realities.

In an interview with The Morayo Show, Bwala said that a large number of highly educated Nigerians living overseas are employed in positions that do not correspond to their qualifications, calling this “modern-day slavery.”

He claims that because they are UK residents, a number of Nigerians with PhDs and master’s degrees now work in care facilities and warehouses under the supervision of those with less education.

“Some of you in Nigeria who think you’re suffering are better off than your colleagues who relocated to the UK five years ago. Many of them have master’s degrees and PhDs, yet they’re working in care homes. To me, that’s modern-day slavery,” he said.

Bwala went on to say that while though many Nigerians living in the UK make between £2,600 and £2,800 a month, a sizable amount of their income is spent on rent, utilities, transport and other living expenditures.

He maintained that despite living in a nation with better public services and infrastructure, many people are forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet due to the high cost of living, leaving them with little savings.

The presidential adviser went on to say that although Nigerians living overseas may have access to good healthcare and other social amenities, many still face financial difficulties and are unable to fulfil long-term objectives like purchasing a car or a home.

His comments have generated conflicting responses on the internet. While some concur that living overseas is frequently more challenging than people realise, others contend that the opportunities and standard of living still surpass the difficulties.