Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance - Politics - Nairaland
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| Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Legitbeauru(op): 3:56am On Jul 13*. Modified: 6:28am On Jul 13 |
In the last three years, the Nigerian socio-economic landscape has witnessed a fascinating yet terrifying structural overhaul. What began as a series of bold, headline-grabbing policy declarations, the immediate removal of the fuel subsidy and the floatation of the Naira, has now transformed into a tidal wave of hyperinflation, sweeping across every household in the federation. From the corporate boardrooms of Lagos to the street-side vendors hawking akara, roasted corn, and kuli kuli, Nigerians are trapped in a grim economic paradox: they are paying first-world prices for third-world governance. This is not a story of hardship but a structural breakdown. And as the 2027 presidential election approaches, it raises a pressing question for the Nigerian electorate. Can a nation state survive on an economic model that continuously extracts wealth from its citizens without delivering basic human security or functional public goods? Despite the administration's explosive media campaigns and promises of a "Renewed Hope," the reality on the ground is not so simple. Behind the political rhetoric lies a fundamental weakness, a historically aggressive taxation framework paired with an absolute failure to protect lives, properties, and the purchasing power of the common man. And that weakness threatens to lock millions of Nigerians out of basic survival, turning daily existence into an extreme sport where the citizens are systematically losing. The Extraction Economy: Why the Government is Taxing the Air To understand the stakes, we must first understand the administration's motivation. Why is the federal government introducing tax after tax like a cash-strapped corporate entity? The answer lies in the administration's macroeconomic philosophy. The state, having starved itself of easy crude oil revenues due to systemic theft and low production, has turned inward. The citizen has become the new oil well. Through the aggressive widening of the tax net, the reintroduction of cybersecurity levies, and hiked tariffs on basic utilities, public finances are being aggressively financialised. What makes an economic policy viable to the masses? Three things: 1. Clear equity in burden-sharing, 2. Visible value for taxes paid, and 3. A safety net for the most vulnerable. In functional democracies, years of civic engagement and public accountability mean these three requirements are often met. In Nigeria? Not quite. The Luxury Car Entourage and the Rhetoric of Sacrifice Still, there are signs of a profound psychological disconnect within the highest echelons of power. Notably, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has actively explored the business of advising the masses on economic endurance. From advocating for subsistence farming to lecturing the public on contentement, her public commentaries have consistently trended online. Most recently, the internet was set aglow following her comments urging popular entertainers to deploy their wealth to help the masses, while admonishing Nigerians to view luxury cars strictly as non-essential luxuries. It was a bold sermon, but it was also a deeply ironic one. While the First Lady’s approach signals an expectation of national sacrifice, it lays bare an underlying hypocrisy: the ruling class expects the masses to bear the brunt of austerity while they themselves operate in absolute opulence. Not long after her speech, broadcast journalist Rufai Oseni shared a striking video of the First Lady’s official entourage, consisting of nearly 60 high-end, luxury vehicles snaking through Nigerian roads. The message to the street was deafeningly clear: sacrifice is an obligation for the poor, but luxury remains a permanent entitlement for the powerful. The Human Capital Crisis: A Legacy of Extravagant Exclusion Nigeria’s economy has always been volatile, but it has rarely been this hostile to human capital development. For much of its recent history, education and food security served as the ultimate escape routes from poverty. Today, the administration's policies have effectively barricaded those exits. Key structural crises currently ravaging the nation include: The Educational Barrier: The recent astronomical hike in WAEC and NECO registration fees to ₦50,000 has turned secondary school graduation into a luxury. In a country where parents are actively struggling to exist, this policy effectively prices the children of the poor out of academic validation. The Food Security Collapse: Due to untamed inflation and the unmitigated failure of agricultural logistics, staple foods have become out of reach. The informal food sector, the akara and kuli kulivendors, can no longer find price stability, leading to widespread malnutrition. The Insecurity Epidemic: Far from being contained, insecurity has expanded. Bandits, secessionist agitators, and terrorist networks continue to sack agrarian communities, levy taxes on local farmers, and execute mass kidnappings with near-total impunity. The Blind Extraction Framework: The administration’s fiscal policies have continuously extracted and extracted from the disposable income of citizens through stamp duties, bank charges, and value-added taxes, without providing any positive, visible impact on public infrastructure. The result is a massive, highly resilient population that is rich in patience but completely depleted of economic oxygen. The 2027 Bottleneck: Why the Incumbent Faces a Judgment of Numbers Herein lies the political tragedy. Just as the nation approaches another electoral cycle, the APC-led administration may find itself structurally unprepared to defend its record before an exhausted electorate. You cannot demand patriotism from a citizen you do not protect, and you cannot demand tax compliance from an enterprise you do not support. Many Nigerian voters, even those who historically supported the ruling party, no longer possess the financial buffer to ignore poor governance. They cannot reconcile a ₦50,000 exam fee with a 60-car convoy. They cannot balance the mathematical permutations of a rising Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with the reality of empty stomachs and unsafe highways. Moreover, even where government defenders point to macro-level reforms, such as being removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray list or increasing the EFCC's anti-graft funding, the data integrity of these achievements means very little to a mother whose child has been withdrawn from school due to fee hikes. Without a stomach-facing infrastructure, macroeconomic statistics remain a pipe dream. Conclusion: The Accountable Ballot The upcoming 2027 presidential election represents more than just a political transition; it is a national referendum on the value of a Nigerian life. Nigeria, as one of the most resourceful and resilient nations on earth, should not be a place where citizens merely exist to be taxed and terrorised. But unless the electorate confronts the current legacy of fiscal informality, unchecked state luxury, and poor human empathy, we risk being remembered only for our capacity to suffer, not our power to choose. In the end, governance is not a favor done for the governed. It is a contractual obligation. And as 2027 draws near, the masses must remember that they hold the ultimate ledger to audit the wealth, the policies, and the heavy price they have paid for the survival of the state. 2 Likes
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| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Goodvibes007: 4:12am On Jul 13*. Modified: 6:48am On Jul 13 |
Topic Title: "Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance" My property tax is over 6,000 dollars a year. Do you pay such taxes in Nigeria? Do Nigerians spend around 11,000 dollars annually per year on university education? E.t.c Maybe you need to adjust your topic title.. 6 Likes 2 Shares |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Legitbeauru(op): 4:21am On Jul 13 |
Goodvibes007:First, when you mention an asset without qualifying its worth , then failing to address whether or not the government in question didn’t reciprocate by providing you with basic amenities like good road, stable electricity, quality healthcare, security and more, then I wonder what point you’re trying to prove with that comment ? 5 Likes |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Goodvibes007: 4:23am On Jul 13 |
Legitbeauru:Insurance is approximately $750 per month for an individual marketplace plan and exceeds $2,000 per month for a family. Do you pay that in Nigeria too? You want 1st world facilities without being ready to pay the price. You can see your topic title is meh 3 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Legitbeauru(op): 4:25am On Jul 13 |
Goodvibes007:So, I want to ask is your government not providing anything to justify all these expenses you claim to incur? If you’re able to answer that question, then you have made a complete and sensible statement. Otherwise the statements in your comment are incomplete and meaningless. 3 Likes |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Goodvibes007: 4:31am On Jul 13 |
Legitbeauru:I pay 1st world prices. Do you pay 1st world prices in Nigeria? 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Legitbeauru(op): 4:34am On Jul 13 |
Goodvibes007:Go back again, and read all my responses to your incomplete comments… i already put a structured response to them all. 4 Likes |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Goodvibes007: 4:49am On Jul 13 |
Legitbeauru:Your assessment of Nigeria's economy is factually incorrect regarding absolute pricing, as fuel costs and inflation rates do not technically match "first-world" levels. If you convert prices directly into US Dollars or British Pounds, goods and services in Nigeria are actually much cheaper than in the West. Fuel: A gallon of petrol in the US or UK generally costs between $3.50 and $7.00 USD. In Nigeria, even after the subsidy removals and price hikes, petrol costs closer to $0.60 to $0.90 USD per litre (roughly $2.30 to $3.40 USD per gallon). Rent & Services: The actual dollar amount needed to buy a loaf of bread, get a haircut, or rent an apartment in Nigeria is a fraction of what it costs in London or New York. Education. Same story Taxes paid. Same E.t.c So you do not pay 1st world prices in Nigeria. 5 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by givedemwotowoto: 4:56am On Jul 13*. Modified: 5:58am On Jul 13 |
Goodvibes007:For a $6,000 per month property tax, your house is worth millions of dollars in one of these states below. According to SR, the home of Tinubu's daughter, Zainab Abisola Tinubu in Brooklyn NY is worth $2.1 million USD. Your home has to be worth double that to pay the $6,000 tax. Does any of these look like how much your property is worth? New Jersey Tax rate: 2.2% Home Value: $3.3 million Illinois Tax rate: 2.1% Home Value: $3.4 million Connecticut Tax rate: 1.9% Home Value: $3.8 million Texas Tax rate: 1.8% Home Value: $4.0 million New Hampshire Tax rate: 1.8% Home Value: $4.0 million New York Tax rate: 1.7% Home Value: $4.2 million Pennsylvania Tax rate: 1.5% Home Value: $4.8 million Michigan Tax rate: 1.5% Home Value: $4.8 million Ohio Tax rate: 1.4% Home Value: $5.1 million California Tax rate: 1.2% Home Value: $6.0 million Massachusetts Tax rate: 1.1% Home Value: $6.5 million Georgia Tax rate: 1.0% Home Value: $7.2 million Florida Tax rate: 0.9% Home Value: $8.0 million Washington Tax rate: 0.9% Home Value: $8.0 million Virginia Tax rate: 0.8% Home Value: $9.0 million North Carolina Tax rate: 0.7% Home Value: $10.3 million Arizona Tax rate: 0.6% Home Value: $12.0 million Colorado Tax rate: 0.5% Home Value: $14.4 million Nevada Tax rate: 0.5% Home Value: $14.4 million Tennessee Tax rate: 0.6% Home Value: $12.0 million Hawaii Tax rate: 0.3% Home Value: $24.0 million burob CharlesCNG Richtaiwo Counterigbolies Ttalk zoedew seunmsg madridguy your boy is rich. Say congratulations 7 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Owombakara: 5:37am On Jul 13 |
This thread will be interesting...ill be back  1 Like |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Factoryfitted: 6:06am On Jul 13 |
Yekini is after our lives. He must not return in 2027 because he is a weapon fashioned against Nigeria(ns). The way this guy aggressively pursues taxation, it's shocking that he claims to be muslim, because tax and taxation are haram in İslam. 2 Likes |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Ibrahimcoomasie: 6:19am On Jul 13 |
givedemwotowoto:He likely meant $6,000 a year. For a 400,000 dollars house. Multiply that by say the tax rate in Texas you posted. That is 0.018 x $350,000 = circa $6,000 which is like average home prices in and around places you would find lots of Nigerians in Texas or Georgia. Cc: burob CharlesCNG Richtaiwo Counterigbolies Ttalk zoedew seunmsg madridguy your boy is rich. Say congratulations 3 Likes |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Ibrahimcoomasie: 6:22am On Jul 13 |
So in Texas, if his home value is $4.0m, his property tax would be $72,000 and not $6,000 per year which is rare. 3 Likes |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Goodvibes0007: 6:32am On Jul 13 |
givedemwotowoto:I meant $6000 per year and not per month. I would edit the original post when spambot releases my original handle. 2 Likes |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by happney65: 6:35am On Jul 13 |
Factoryfitted:Yekini is not even a Muslim like that.. . Yekini only uses Religion when needed. Baba werey ni.. |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Legitbeauru(op): 7:05am On Jul 13*. Modified: 7:29am On Jul 13 |
Goodvibes007:Converting Nigerian prices to dollar to prove we don't pay 'first-world prices' is a flawed economic analysis. Westerners earn in USD/GBP; Nigerians earn in a heavily devalued Naira. When you look at the Purchasing Power Parity, Nigerians are paying the highest real prices in the world relative to income.What you are ignoring is Tax Incidence. When the administration places heavy taxes on corporations, those businesses invertly shift the burden forward to the consumer. That is why grinding pepper in public places has jumped from 200 naira to 1,500, and why common haircut is now priced at some places in Nigeria 2500 per haircut. Since you won’t mention this , I will help you to add it- I know you’re aware that in the West you’re citing every now and then, taxes pay for free schools, healthcare, and security. In Nigeria, we pay heavy taxes and still pay 50k for WAEC and NECO, dig our own water boreholes, and buy fuel for generators and pay heavily to install solar power for our homes and businesses, and sadly some communities contribute money to repair/build their roads and pay for security services to protect their properties and lives. And these are Nigerians carrying the direct weight of heavy taxations in the nation. Look at the news from the airports this morning, where a video showing airport cab drivers protesting a new policy from FAAN mandating drivers to use 2020 car models, vehicles costing upwards of 18 million. This is the exact indirect taxation and elite disconnect we are talking about. See https://www.nairaland.com/8708290/cant-afford-18-million-cars The government issues a decree to look 'first-world' without providing the first-world credit facilities, low-interest loans, or stable economy to back it up. If those drivers struggle to buy those 18m cars, guess who pays for it? The average Nigerian traveler through hyper-inflated transport fares. We are simply paying first-world costs for survival with no state benefits… what’s your next line of defense now ? 2 Likes |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by zoedew: 7:26am On Jul 13 |
Legitbeauru:Your analysis is instructive and has my buy-in. It mirrors my reality. I live in Nigeria! 1 Like |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by CSTRR: 7:52am On Jul 13 |
Goodvibes007:I checked your history, and saw that you support your tinubu and it told me everything I needed to know. 2 Likes |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Factoryfitted: 9:14am On Jul 13 |
happney65:As in.... That guy has no creed. Like you say, any claim to religion is in order to decieve the gullible. Infact it has become painfully obvious that, the only creed that guy holds true to, is take and take and take. He is like the devil. Taker-in -chief. 2 Likes |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Sheuns(m): 9:22am On Jul 13 |
I’ve never for once heard any presidential candidate or president talk of tax cuts in Nigeria. It’s always tax increase, pay more taxes. Yet we still get to fix our water, provide our electricity, even pave our roads in some cases by ourselves. I still ask, what’s the point of generating revenues if it won’t be used to better the lives of the citizens? We should be talking of reducing taxes, slashing interest rates to single digits, this will enable industries do more, employ more, cut down inflation and increase the purchasing power of the Naira and in turn make lives better for the people. Why is the government so focused on revenue generation? |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by BrickandLace(f): 9:24am On Jul 13 |
Third world ke ? This is beyond 3rd world Try 4Th to 5th world 1 Like |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Elusive001: 9:36am On Jul 13 |
Legitbeauru:That is one problem with the APC/Tinubu’s supporters. He did tell us the worth of "the non existent property. He didn't tell us how he earns. He did tell us what the government does with the tax ge pays. Audio property. Bros he no get nada. He has not even seen blocks, let alone cement. |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Elusive001: 9:38am On Jul 13 |
givedemwotowoto:You dey mind that bare faced liar? |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Elusive001: 9:41am On Jul 13 |
Goodvibes007:Stop talking B U N K U M You have no property, let alone pay any tax. All of una evil supporters na online billionaires. Have you ever bought a block or even a cup of cement before since you were born? Only GOD know whay you APC/Tinubu’s supporters smoke and drink. |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by SuperOnyi: 2:51pm On Jul 13*. Modified: 7:19pm On Jul 13 |
Goodvibes007: I'm sorry I had to chip in here. Let me start by saying that while I understand your points --- although not well placed --- you are making the wrong move criticizing people for saying that the economic isn't smiling at them. I can easily smile and agree with you because I know ways to earn in dollar here, even bigger than those living 'abroad,' but that would be disingenuous. Even if I believed Nigeria is cheap, the only reason I would believe that is because I only want to earn big in dollar and invest here, and I also live in the countryside where we have our own small farm. But even at that, everyone is complaining here. Comparing the currency here and over there isn't smart. I remember when I used to work physical jobs to survive, someone earning $2000 a month in the US is living larger than me. I used to starve. If I earned 3,000 naira a week, I'd be grateful. How many jobs (that doesn't require certificates) will pay you better than McDonalds here? I'm using them as example because these are jobs people get to survive. Our currency is not just losing its value but also its buying power. Can someone working in "Chicken Republic" live better than someone working at McDonalds? I can bet my balls that Nigerians are the easiest people to control, look at what happened during covid 19 lockdown. If the government spent the little taxes the citizens pay, whether we like it or not, we must pay for those taxes. I'm sure you received some benefits from the government over there, but here we were getting our as$ kicked trying to get something to eat. So, stop mocking people's pain. And yes, Nigerians are very annoying and ungrateful, but things aren't easy for anyone right now. The only reason you are in your "first world" paying your "first world" taxes, driving on that clean road, and living in that property with clean water is because people dared to question the state of their country. Even now, people still insult Donald Trump, let alone a country like ours. You are saying a gallon of gas is more expensive there than it is here is funny, why is Youtube Music subscription significantly cheaper in Nigeria than it is in America? Purchasing power! It's the same reason you earn more in YouTube as someone with an American audience compared to someone with a Nigerian audience. Even a foreign company understands this better than you, and that says a lot. 99.999999999% of Nigerians earn in Naira and spend in Naira! 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Kemetian: 3:16pm On Jul 13 |
Goodvibes007:Honestly you have to time for these people.. These saboteurs. |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Legitbeauru(op): 6:34pm On Jul 13 |
SuperOnyi:I want to specially thank @SuperOnyi for that brilliant breakdown. The YouTube Music subscription example is the ultimate knockout punch to the dollar-conversion theory. When even multi-billion-dollar foreign tech companies understand that 99.9% of Nigerians earn in Naira and adjust their pricing to match our eroded purchasing power, it shows how detached from reality anyone arguing otherwise is. To the diaspora commentators comparing gas prices: A McDonald's worker in the US or a Tesco worker in the UK can pay their taxes, pay their bills, fuel their cars, and still have a safety net. But a Chicken Republic worker in Nigeria cannot even buy a bag of rice with their monthly salary, let alone pay 50k for their child's NECO and WAEC registration. Demanding accountability is not 'complaining'; it is the fundamental engine of democracy. Nigeria belongs to all of us, not an elite few. We are paying the highest real cost for survival on earth with zero state benefits, and we will not stop questioning how our collective resources are managed. 1 Like 1 Share |
| Re: Nigerians Are Now Paying First World Prices for Third World Governance by Beautifulday: 7:28pm On Jul 13 |
Goodvibes007:Can you make that kind of money in Nigeria doing the same thing you do there? |
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