A quiet battle is raging in Nigeria, not with guns but with words. It’s a war of narratives, fueled by a bitter political opposition desperate for power. These forces are bankrolling stories that tarnish Nigeria’s image globally. A friend recently messaged from South Africa, lamenting how South Africans belittle Nigeria, going beyond mere Afrophobia. They’ve turned Nigeria into a cheap, disrespected punchline, all for short-term political gain. But progressives must not surrender. For every chorus of naysayers, we must counter with facts: Nigeria has a thinking leader, the country is improving daily, and many are thriving despite a shifting global economy.
I meet countless Nigerians eager to return home or reconnect productively. The old narrative that anywhere else is better than Nigeria has crumbled. Those who left have discovered that every nation has its flaws, and Nigeria’s problems are often opportunities for private-sector solutions. Even the orchestrated security crises in some regions are often political ploys, met with the right response: state policing. Yet, the same critics who weaponize insecurity now decry state policing, seeking to stall progress. It’s baffling. President Tinubu granted local government autonomy, boosting funds to sub-nationals, and now state policing is becoming a reality. Still, these voices find reasons to complain.
Every nation evolves. The U.S. grapples with gun violence, rooted in a Second Amendment born from a violent past. Change will come, but time is key. So it is with Nigeria. Political change may be slow, but it happens.
Take the recent interview where Bayo Onanuga, the President’s special adviser on Information and Strategy, spoke with Charles Aniagolu on Arise TV. The uproar came when Onanuga said he pays the salaries of many young Nigerians and doesn’t see the “everyone is dying of hunger” narrative. Nigerians must resist this manufactured outrage economy. The opposition can’t win power through outrage alone. They need clear plans, not vague emotional appeals. They mock the suffering while profiting from the misery. If they truly care, let them feed the hungry themselves. The government would back it, provided it’s transparent. Some have become billionaires in recent years, yet they fuel this outrage. It’s unfair. Help Nigerians, don’t torment them with hopeless words.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, faces similar attacks. She tirelessly shares resources nationwide, helping the poorest start businesses like frying akara. Critics malign her, missing the point: she’s lifting thousands out of hunger. These detractors despise the poor, using them as pawns while offering no solutions.
As Chinua Achebe wrote, we must adapt. We need hard evidence to counter the doom-mongers. I approached the National Bureau of Statistics for employment data, last updated in 2023. My analysis adjusts their figures: reducing manufacturing apparel workers from 4.5 million to 3 million, textile workers from 726,876 to 400,000, and increasing retail trade from 18.8 million to 25 million, reflecting Nigeria’s 39 million MSMEs and population growth. I cut crop and animal production from 24.5 million to 20 million, accounting for urbanization. Household and domestic personnel jumped from 151,000 to 1 million, recognizing the vast number of houseboys, gatemen, and drivers. Financial sector workers rose from 387,000 to 500,000, thanks to fintech growth.
New job categories include makeup artists, digital remote workers, and keke/okada riders. Some dismiss these hustles, but a keke driver earning N15,000 daily for 20 days makes N300,000 monthly, N3.6 million untaxed annually. I added plumbers, electricians, crypto workers, pension managers, airline staff, car manufacturers, real estate agents, and facility managers. My final tally: 93,887,000 gainfully employed Nigerians. Of our 220 million population, about 40% are under 18, and 15% are retirees, leaving a working population of 100-110 million. So, 93 million employed means an unemployment problem, not Armageddon.
This is what Onanuga meant: no debilitating crisis. I pay staff monthly too, and each salary supports a family. I urge him to continue these interviews despite the mob mentality. Many attackers lack information. The Tinubu government’s reforms set Nigeria on a recovery path. But AI looms: top tech companies fired 200,000 workers recently, citing AI efficiency. We must consider global shifts. Nigeria and other developing nations have opportunities in security, environment, education, health, and social services. President Tinubu aims to employ 400,000 in these sectors. Yet, many young people prefer to abuse elders anonymously rather than seek jobs.
Finally, the First Lady’s grassroots efforts deserve praise. Critics want her to discuss value chains, but if she spoke tech to hungry people, they’d tear her apart. The ringleaders of these calumnies don’t want a better Nigeria. They oppose feeding the hungry, mocking government food aid. When last did opposition figures show philanthropy? They just revel in their own voices while Nigerians suffer. We must not let them win. President Tinubu will continue reaching out to the vulnerable, easing immediate pains while building a brighter future.
