Media personality Nedu Wazobia has released a blunt Instagram reel questioning what salary is actually enough for ordinary people to survive in Nigeria today, citing data that only a tiny fraction of workers clear ₦200,000 a month.
In the clip, the former Wazobia FM host lays out the gap between pay and rising costs.
“How much does a person need to earn as salary to survive in the Nigeria of today? 200k? 300k? Or is it 500k the person needs to be paid to survive in the Nigeria of today? For millions of Nigerians, even that 200k will not be enough,” he says.
He points to a widely cited Nigerian Financial Services Market survey.
“A widely cited Nigerian financial service market survey found out that only about 2.4% of working Nigerians earn above 200k a month. Just 2.4% of the whole Nigerians. Think about that.”
Rent, food, transport and school fees keep climbing, he adds, while salaries do not keep pace.
Nedu also references World Bank estimates that about 63% of Nigerians were living below the country’s poverty line. He notes that Nigeria is a young country, with a large share of the population under 25.
“These aren’t just statistics. Our children are a part of this number. Our future.”
On inflation, he pushes back against the idea that lower rates mean relief.
“They say it has reduced, but it doesn’t mean the prices of things in the market are coming down. It simply means prices are increasing slower than before. Things are still getting more expensive every day. Transport is still costly. Life is still hard for millions of Nigerians.”
The message turns to how people cope.
“We live in a country where even our prayers are selfish. ‘If bad things are happening at the front, let me be at the back. If it’s happening at the back let me be at the front.’ What if those who are affected?”
He frames the problem as bigger than any single administration.
“It’s not about attacking or defending one government or the other. This is about all of us. We need jobs. We need affordable food. We need good healthcare that we can trust. Affordable power. We need security and leadership that listens to ordinary citizens.”
Citizens also carry responsibility, he says, especially at the ballot.
“The responsibility is not only on the government though. We’re also responsible for things like voting, and voting for people who will solve your problems. Look at the issues, their plans, and their records before making your decision. Your vote is the voice you have.”
Nedu closes with the Nigeria he wants.
“I want a Nigeria where hardwork pays and earns you a decent life. Where our children can dream. Where people can travel without fear. Where eating normal foods isn’t luxury. Where security is not a privilege. I want a Nigeria where survival isn’t just something we’re fighting for. Nigeria belongs to all of us and if we truly want better for our country, we all have a role to play.”