Social media influencer @Wizarab10 has sparked widespread debate online after sharing a lengthy post comparing Nigeria’s current economic situation with the period when Goodluck Jonathan was in office.
In the post shared on X, he reflected on his time as a student at the University of Benin, saying that although many students struggled financially at the time, the overall cost of living was far more manageable than it is today.
Wizarab reflects on student life under Jonathan
According to him, travelling to Benin City during his school years cost between ₦12,000 and ₦18,000, while about ₦30,000 was enough to buy a large supply of provisions for the semester.
He added that his monthly pocket money of ₦25,000 to ₦30,000 was sufficient for his needs at the time and even allowed him to assist friends in the hostel.
Criticism of current economic conditions
However, the influencer argued that maintaining the same lifestyle today would require over ₦500,000, pointing to the country’s rising cost of living in recent years.
He blamed the situation on economic challenges experienced under successive administrations, including those of Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his post, he also complained about the rising exchange rate, expensive domestic flights, increasing school fees, and the growing difficulty many Nigerians face in affording food, healthcare, and education.
His statement
Sharing his thoughts, he wrote:
“I went to school when Goodluck Jonathan was President. That was during Nigeria’s economic boom. Yet, I saw people struggle to pay ₦12k for school fees. I saw people come to school with ₦2k or ₦5k as pocket money. Some came with foodstuff and the reminder to ‘remember the home you came from.’
A flight to Benin was between ₦12k and ₦18k. I would go back to school with a large travelling box filled with provisions, and it cost about ₦30k. My pocket money was between ₦25k and ₦30k, and it was sufficient. I was even feeding friends in the hostel and was nicknamed the most generous person there.
Today, to do everything I just mentioned, you would need more than ₦500k because the economy has worsened. The exchange rate is extremely high, flights are expensive, food has become a luxury, and school fees are beyond the reach of many families.
People are struggling to afford healthcare and basic needs, while the minimum wage is about ₦70k. Yet some people still defend the rising cost of living in the country.”
The post has since attracted significant reactions online, with many Nigerians debating the country’s economic trajectory and comparing past administrations with the current economic realities.
Check out the post below…
