Lere Olayinka, an aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians, especially young people, to stop describing the country as if things have never been worse.
Speaking on AIT News, Olayinka argued that Nigeria has made progress over the years. He recalled how his parents struggled to pay his secondary school fees, which initially cost ₦20 before rising to ₦40.
He said the amount was still difficult for his parents to afford.
“My parents could not get ₦40 that time. It was so difficult. They would tell us that things are bad.”
Olayinka argued that comparing the value of money across different periods without considering how difficult it was to earn was misleading.
“Because that ₦40 you are talking about, the same effort you made then, where will you get the ₦40 then? The same effort you made to get ₦40 now is probably what you made to get ₦40,000,” he stated.
He also recalled when cement sold for ₦200 and a new Peugeot 504 cost ₦6,500, questioning how many people could afford to build houses or buy cars at the time.
According to him, some young Nigerians view the economy this way because their parents provided most of their needs while they were growing up.
He also pointed to changes in journalism, recalling when reporters travelled long distances to send stories and relied on transport drivers to deliver VHS cassettes. He said digital platforms now offer opportunities for content creators and online broadcasters.
Olayinka concluded, “So let us not keep this mindset of telling people there is hunger, there is hunger, there is hunger, there is hunger. People are building houses now, today, as we are talking.”
