₦airaland Forum

Dr. Tope Fasua, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs, has highlighted the complexities of poverty measurement while defending the value of the naira in local terms, comparing the cost of living in Nigeria with that of the United States.

Speaking on the MicOnPodcast with Seun Okinbaloye, Fasua argued that many Nigerians misunderstand the concept of multi-dimensional poverty, which is often used in global poverty indices.

“Some people don’t understand the meaning of multi-dimensional poverty,” he said. “They think multi-dimensional poverty is worse than food poverty. What multi-dimensional means is that maybe the school your children attend is too far from you, or the hospital, and they categorise you as multi-dimensional.”

He went on to explain that despite the high exchange rate of the naira to the dollar, the purchasing power of local currency in Nigeria remains significant compared to the cost of living abroad.

“$1 is N1,500 – it’s a lot of money for many people in Nigeria. $10 won’t buy you lunch anywhere in the

U.S., sometimes you need at least $20, that is N30,000 in Nigeria,” Fasua explained.

Using relatable examples, Fasua described how ordinary Nigerians can still enjoy decent meals without spending much.

“I will tell you what you can do with $5 – that is N7,500 – if you are not going to eat in some eyebrow places. In Gwarinpa, there are some people that sell Boli and fish and you will eat for N1,500. If you know where you are coming from,” he added.

Islie:
$10 won’t buy you lunch in U.S, but $1 will get you meal in Nigeria – Tope Fasua, SSA to Tinubu






https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/04/10-wont-buy-you-lunch-in-u-s-but-1-will-get-you-meal-in-nigeria-tope-fasua-ssa-to-tinubu/

Nlfpmod

peleson1:
What can $1 buy you in Nigeria

What kind of meal is that ?

Maybe garri and groundnuts.

Imagine how these ingrates think.

Which Fast food can you get a Good meal with 1500naira ?

Is it Chicken Republic?
Is it Kilimanjaro?...
Is it tantalizes?
.is it even white House in Yaba
Or in
Ozone?

Or all these risky burgers and mass production Mama puts that put your life at risks



See how this apc government keeping degrading citizens .

Why not work to take Nigerians off hunger lines at least to where Gej left us?


You guys removed all the subsidies both physically and spiritually and lock up the money for yourselves alone .


Wicked set of people

ObosiLandlord:
Food is expensive in the USA, but when you look at what they earn, they can easily afford it.

Xisnin:
What are you waiting for?
Hop on the next available flight to enjoy $1 lunch.

This guy was comparing $10 to $1, how does that make sense since
Nigeria spends Naira and not Dollar.
He should have compared $10 to #10.

Islie:
$10 won’t buy you lunch in U.S, but $1 will get you meal in Nigeria – Tope Fasua, SSA to Tinubu






https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/04/10-wont-buy-you-lunch-in-u-s-but-1-will-get-you-meal-in-nigeria-tope-fasua-ssa-to-tinubu/

Nlfpmod

Karlovych:
The drug dealer keeps appointing agbero statisticians, it's no wonder his zombie followers reason like him.

Most people buy snacks during lunch and $10 can get you that in the States

surgical:
I am just surprised at the guy,he is a very brilliant guy
Before coming to government, you can see his brilliant contribution on TV, people centric approach
But since he join government he has been saying dumb things, that I begin to wonder,what has happened to him

Xisnin:
What has happened to him is the outsized salary and influence they get from the appointment.
The issue with these kind of guys is that while they are smart, they lack ideology and hence
could serve as tool to anybody who can afford them.