Keji Giwa, a well-known real estate developer and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Landlords and Giwa Gardens Water Park, has come under intense criticism on social media after a series of contentious statements about his political preferences, business outlook, and perceptions of Nigeria’s economy.
In a podcast episode that has since gone viral, the UK-trained entrepreneur openly expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, explaining that his position is driven strictly by calculated business interests. He further drew attention by saying he is effectively “banking on” Nigeria’s economic conditions not improving.
When addressing concerns about inflation and instability, Giwa insisted that his household is largely shielded from everyday economic hardships experienced by most Nigerians. “Whether Nigeria gets better or not, I’m perfectly okay,” he said, adding that his family’s circumstances are supported by private education and long-standing generational wealth.
The remarks sparked widespread backlash from Nigerians at home and abroad. Many online critics described his comments as “selfish,” “exploitative,” and reflective of a wealthy elite disconnected from ordinary realities, benefiting from systemic economic and governance failures.
Giwa has previously faced similar criticism after suggesting that Nigeria’s uneven income distribution advantages his business model by enabling lower wage costs for local workers.
This is not the first controversy surrounding the real estate figure. Months earlier, he attracted public outrage for comments made on a podcast in which he expressed support for the deportation of some of his former employees who had relocated to the United Kingdom, accusing them of having “used and abused” his company after receiving training.
Beyond public controversy, Giwa’s business operations are also facing mounting scrutiny from dissatisfied investors. Reports and complaints have pointed to growing unrest tied to his companies, Digital Landlords and Giwa Gardens.
Several investors, including a United States based psychiatric technician who committed ₦19 million and a Lagos based developer with ₦8.16 million reportedly locked in, have accused the firm of withholding capital and promised returns on investment for up to five years. According to these claims, refund requests have allegedly been met with evasion, legal resistance, and social media blocking, further eroding confidence in projects such as the recently unveiled “Eko Miami.”
