$1 A Day Is Enough” — Tinubu’s Adviser Sparks Outrage Over ‘Tone-Deaf’ Poverty Comment
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua has come under heavy fire after comments made during his appearance on Mic On, a podcast hosted by Channels TV journalist Seun Okinbaloye, went viral.
Speaking on Nigeria’s harsh economic reality, Fasua said: “A dollar per day. A dollar is a thousand five hundred. Look, 1500 is a lot of money for many people in Nigeria… I will tell you what to do with $5 — that’s ₦7500. If you’re not eating at the Hilton or some highbrow place, there is a lot you can do with it. In Gwarinmpa, just like Port Harcourt, you can get bole and fish by the roadside for ₦1500.”
He added that while $10 can hardly buy lunch in the U.S., Nigerians must consider the purchasing power parity before crying foul, implying that what looks meagre in dollars could stretch farther in the Nigerian context.
The comment, meant to justify the government’s economic policies and defend Nigeria’s minimum wage, backfired spectacularly.
Within hours, Nigerians took to social media to express their outrage, calling the statement “insensitive,” “elitist,” and “detached from reality.”
@omo_akin: “This man said ₦1500 is a lot of money. When a bag of rice is ₦80,000? Are these people living in the same Nigeria?”
@khadijahsays: “I don’t blame him. People that shop at Hilton and talk down to Nigerians who struggle to afford garri.”
@samoracle: “Gwarinpa bole is now the economic indicator. We’re finished.”
Despite mounting criticism, the presidency has not yet issued an official statement distancing itself from Fasua’s remarks.
The podcast episode, now trending across social media, has added fuel to an already growing resentment among citizens battling food inflation, a falling naira, and stagnating wages.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
