Isaac Fayose, a prominent Nigerian businessman, has criticised Reno Omokri, the nominee for Nigeria’s ambassadorship to Mexico, after Omokri compared gasoline prices in the United Kingdom with those in Nigeria.
In a Wednesday post on his official Facebook page, Omokri highlighted the disparity between fuel costs, stating that gasoline in England is priced at N3,200 per litre – “almost three times what we pay in Nigeria.” He attributed the rise in fuel prices globally to the crisis in the Middle East.
The comment sparked considerable backlash on social media. Fayose responded on his own Facebook account, questioning whether Omokri had taken into account the differences in minimum wages and living costs between the two countries before drawing a direct comparison.
According to Fayose, the minimum wage in Nigeria is N70,000 per month. At a price of N1,400 per litre, a Nigerian earning the minimum wage could afford roughly 48 litres of fuel each month, a figure that does not include expenses such as food, housing, transportation and other necessities. By contrast, Fayose noted that the United Kingdom’s minimum wage exceeds £12 per hour, which translates to an annual income of around £25,000 – approximately N50 million at current exchange rates. He pointed out that the Nigerian minimum wage of N70,000 per year amounts to less than one million naira, underscoring the stark gap in purchasing power.
Fayose concluded his response by questioning Omokri’s statement, asking, “What can I do with 70,000 naira in a month?” and suggesting that Omokri’s remarks were intended to please external influences.
The exchange illustrates the sensitivity surrounding fuel price discussions in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom, where rising energy costs have become a prominent public concern. It also highlights ongoing debates about economic disparities and the relevance of cross‑country price comparisons without contextualising wage differentials and cost‑of‑living variations.
The incident has drawn attention from observers monitoring Nigeria’s diplomatic appointments and public discourse on economic policy. No official comment has been issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by Omokri’s representatives as of the time of writing.
