₦airaland Forum

85 to 90 percent of Nigerians are potential thieves and our political leaders and government are just reflection of our society.

Content creators will say anything just to generate traffic, being true or false is not their concern. They are willing to call their mama ashewo and produce AI video showing her having a 3. some as long as it will go viral

Dmthreads:
Popular content creator Shank has stirred conversation online after posting a candid and rather uncomfortable opinion about the character of the average Nigerian, suggesting that the country's harsh conditions have deeply shaped how people treat one another.

In a post shared on X, he wrote, "An average Nigerian is not a good person. The environment don just wire everyone to 'survive.' Whichever way it takes or plays. It's sad, but that's the truth. An average Nigerian feels smart when they cheat the other person. "I use am for am" ahahah. Sad. God help us all. It's embedded in our subconscious. Everything be like war. The country don scar us. You don't have to hurt the next person to grow, or win."

What's your take on what Shank said?

Source: Legit.ng
Photo credit - shankcomics/Instagram

budaatum:
I am beginning to be intrigued by this so called "average Nigerian" that is going about. I've just been told they are taught rubbish, and here's me being told they are not good people.

Please, "average Nigerians" on Nairaland, if any, are you a bad person, and do you expect the Executive and the Legislature to check their excess power for you?

how do you always do this? Embedding links inside your texts? Do you have experience in website dev cause I think it's amazing. Tell me how please.

Rayjay45:
Na Nigerians dey sell other Nigerians into slavery in Libya o.

Their compatriots dey UK dey treat each other like shii - even family - selling fake CoS without jobs.

And as we dey write, hundreds of thousands are on SM calling themselves agents and all so they wanna do is sell you visas to GCC nations wey no get jobs.



I think we are most brutal outside the shores of the country.

The hash society made virtually almost everyone brutal, we are living to survive.

Helinuse:
It's not a human being thing.
It's a Nigerian thing.

He clearly backed his statement with a very powerful point: "trying to survive."
In that mode, every African, or generally the third world, can do, and will do, anything to survive.

Have the privilege of traveling to other countries and seeing the difference.
Where immigrants gather and make a ghetto, their crime rate is very high.
But where the locals segregate themselves, the crime rate is very low.

It's the person and the people. Survival can make a man think and act in ways he wouldn't if his survival weren't threatened.
Today, while going to work, an immigrant approached me, and he looked very fierce. When I gave him the attention, he asked for money. And the moment I declined, he became very aggressive, but of course, he could do nothing because he saw that I am a black and will retaliate in kind and more. But trust me, he was ready to do anything to me just to get 1 Euro for a cigarette.

You obviously haven’t researched this topic
Nigerians are used to getting away without consequences for their actions and got used to it

Most countries citizens are used to facing consequences for bad actions

If you give Europeans or Americans lack of consequences Nigerians have they would do worse

We have seen them in Nigeria become far more wicked n evil

Research the topic more then come back

Image123:
We've known that for long. They're even worse than those in authority and will do worse if given opportunity. It's the bitter truth. Imagine someone saying it's better for kidnapped children to die than be rescued. And she has support from those that want to rescue Nigeria.

I guess you're not an average Nigerian. Unfortunately the Op is blaming your gods for the mindset of the average Nigerian so you just dribbled yourself into a corner in a bid to defend your gods and paint the average Nigerian as worse than your gods.
Looking at the kidnapping for example. It doesn't take an Einstein to know that those sponsoring these terrorists are those who are in authority or who have been. After all, the sitting VP harboured Kabiru Sokoto in his lodge while his political benefactor in his state gave boko haram slots in his cabinet.
The president himself whom you worship is known to fraternise with thugs whose stock in trade is threatening and cajoling people to vote a certain way or stay at home.
You don't find any of those acts reprehensible enough. It's the moans and whines of an anonymous Internet user that's your veritable evidence of the evil in the average Nigerian.
You need help

peacenow:
Where law makers and law enforcers should be good examples, we can see all they have been doing to curb lawlessness, when Policies and laws are in place but when to enforce them, Law enforcement turns blind eye.In a video circulating online, Police was waiving to group Terr@r!sts in survival mode and shamefully, Police came out that Terr@r!sts were vigilantes. Vigilantes with antiAircraft weapon that Nigeria police does not have.

We are all sitting on time bomb based on two laws floating in Nigeria legal system. Islamic law and English law. Last, last, we will all be OK

It’s not even about individual
It’s about system making it possible not to hold anyone responsible but a group

Take lekki flooding for example
Who do u actually hold responsible ?
But if you have an officer made in charge of lekki phase one for flood prevention and drainage blockage control say Engr Xxxx
Once lekki phase one floods you know who to hold and the consequences should be his removal

He would make sure lekki phase one never floods

The system is designed to help people escape consequences because no one is given charge

Who would have believe that odogwu asaba is a serial rapist.

Nigerians are evil normally

Powerbandooo:
You dey see food chop, na while you dey form good person

Some people are still able to maintain integrity in the face of hunger.

budaatum:
So, the argument is that most Nigerians do not hold the government accountable? If so, I agree, as does the evidence.

At the last election where more than 90 million were registered to vote, less than 10 million elected Tinubu.

We must indeed do better next time.

I think the problem is not just about Tinubu, but about our general perception of life. Personally, I have come to the conclusion that it is a "Black race syndrome," because good leadership seems to be a challenge in many Black communities, from Europe to Africa. A large percentage of our population also tends to overlook injustice if they have any connection to the perpetrators, whether through tribe, religion, political party, or any other affiliation.

Forumobserver12:
Most of them are just trying to sound woke, funny enough they ended up sounding unintelligent... I am an exception cos I don't fall into such categories of Nigerians and im sure they many of us out there . .

Check out these please

Thundafireseun:
Very very valid statement...

When you run into any policeman on duty...All he thinks about is how to extract money from bloody civilians...

The EFCC claiming self righteous ... Get full erection once they use a Yahoo boy so they can milk him ....

Dangote price of cement in other countries is cheeper than in Nigeria because of bad intentions... My list is Endless

Police man is even higher, your close neighbour, some close friend/associate, even siblings

budaatum:
I am beginning to be intrigued by this so called "average Nigerian" that is going about. I've just been told they are taught rubbish, and here's me being told they are not good people.

Please, "average Nigerians" on Nairaland, if any, are you a bad person, and do you expect the Executive and the Legislature to check their excess power for you?

The guy is spot on. It is not just average Nigerians, it is the Nigerian mindset. A very selfish mindset.

SmartPolician:
This is a fact someone like myself knows. Because most Nigerians are terrible humans, that's why we have successfully sustained this shit-hole for over six decades.

If we were good people, a person or a group of people from among us would've risen and fixed this shit-hole country

I authorize u to RISE and fix it

SmartPolician:
This is a fact someone like myself knows. Because most Nigerians are terrible humans, that's why we have successfully sustained this shit-hole for over six decades.

If we were good people, a person or a group of people from among us would've risen and fixed this shit-hole country

The real shit hole is your underdeveloped region.
Your leaders since 1960 have failed that your region.

It's sad you are routing for another failed leader like Obi

sucess001:
I agree that most Nigerians are brainless.

Else how do you explain most people agreeing with what Skank is saying?

Have you seen an Indian man say the average Indian is not a good person?

Or have you heard a South African say that about his countrymen?

Have u even heard any other country citizen say that?

Nigerians are the biggest de marketers to Nigeria.

If you are not a good person, please don't project your bad energy to others.

The "average Nigerian" is generally unaware about the class struggle in the country.
The ruling economic & political elite are the major problem of the country but they blame ordinary/"average" Nigerians using apparatuses like the media (formerly the legacy & now the internet via the social media mostly using internet personalities) to convey their skewed message.
Unfortunately, the "average Nigerian" has begun to believe this slanted messaging.

mablie:
The "average Nigerian" is generally unaware about the class struggle in the country.
The ruling economic & political elite are the major problem of the country but they blame ordinary/"average" Nigerians using apparatuses like the media to convey their skewed message.
Unfortunately, the "average Nigerian" has begun to believe this slanted messaging.

This is the oldest trick in elite governance: manufacture a narrative so people fight each other instead of the system. Divide-and-rule works because it's cheaper than actual reform. The real question is why ordinary Nigerians keep falling for narratives that don't serve them."

Dmthreads:
This is the oldest trick in elite governance: manufacture a narrative so people fight each other instead of the system. Divide-and-rule works because it's cheaper than actual reform. The real question is why ordinary Nigerians keep falling for narratives that don't serve them."

@Emboldened

The ordinary Nigerians are a severely miseducated group (from the religions to education ...we are generally systematically bred to fail) .What does the "average Nigerian" know about "Class Consciousness"?Even i was thesame until i put myself through years and years and years of painful deprogramming processes

He is 100% correct

mrvitalis:
You obviously haven’t researched this topic
Nigerians are used to getting away without consequences for their actions and got used to it

Most countries citizens are used to facing consequences for bad actions

If you give Europeans or Americans lack of consequences Nigerians have they would do worse

We have seen them in Nigeria become far more wicked n evil

Research the topic more then come back

You obviously don't know anything beyond the little space of your exposure.
Just to inform you: the Western culture is built on TRUST.
That is why there is the term "high-trust society."

No one attaches any consequence to a lot of things.
People just do what they do simply because they are supposed to.
They focus on their jobs, not because they don't have an alternative, but because they are trustworthy.
That is why you have shops with no human caretaker, yet they know society will not pick and pay.

Africans are the ones who face the consequences of everything.
And they do so because of their character. They think consequences cure bad character.
Whereas that is a misconception. Consequences only make the character scheme for ways around it.

Take all Nigerians, and give them an empty America with its police and legal system.
See it become a Nigeria in the next 1 month.

This is the truth. For a nation that is so religious we do some of the most wicked things to our own. From tales of how kinsmen kill themselves out of envy to the way we break laws with impunity and take what belongs to others like its our damn right. It takes almost nothing to take a life in this country, you can be mobbed to death on a peaceful day for senseless reasons.

As long as he's included I have no problem with his statement

12345baba:
I authorize u to RISE and fix it

Because you are?

When you put a cruel somebody like bubu & bat there what else were you guys expecting 🤷🏻‍♀️. you can never plant bitter kola and expect to reap or harvest sweet apples. I have told you guys several times.

You guys rejected and kicked out a compassionate and kindhearted leader.


Nigerians Ntoor 👀

Carry your cross

Very correct it's because of how our society is planned it's makes us hate our self and jealous our selves .... unnecessary enviness ...poverty breeds evil mind

This is true,I had battery issue one time engaged a man to borrow me his battery..the man charged me 2k after much begging he collected 1k for to start my car ,it was there I fear the environment..all man is surviving on another man anyhow

segyoms:
This is true,I had battery issue one time engaged a man to borrow me his battery..the man charged me 2k after much begging he collected 1k for to start my car ,it was there I fear the environment..all man is surviving on another man anyhow

That's exactly what hardship does—it makes survival a business. In a healthier economy, helping someone jump-start a car would likely be seen as a simple act of kindness. But when everyone is struggling to make ends meet, even small favours become income opportunities. The real issue isn't just individual behaviour; it's the environment that has made survival outweigh compassion for many people.

segyoms:
This is true,I had battery issue one time engaged a man to borrow me his battery..the man charged me 2k after much begging he collected 1k for to start my car ,it was there I fear the environment..all man is surviving on another man anyhow

Na bat cause am

He cause chain reaction of hike in price of goods and services

The sad thing is it is not abating anytime soon. He is removing all subsidies, all buffers, when he knows that Nigeria economy is not vibrant at all.

Not diversified
One pattern
Monopolistic
And one that is largely dependent on quasi religion instead of industrialization.

The result has been a monumental disaster.

Kukutente23:
I guess you're not an average Nigerian. Unfortunately the Op is blaming your gods for the mindset of the average Nigerian so you just dribbled yourself into a corner in a bid to defend your gods and paint the average Nigerian as worse than your gods.
Looking at the kidnapping for example. It doesn't take an Einstein to know that those sponsoring these terrorists are those who are in authority or who have been. After all, the sitting VP harboured Kabiru Sokoto in his lodge while his political benefactor in his state gave boko haram slots in his cabinet.
The president himself whom you worship is known to fraternise with thugs whose stock in trade is threatening and cajoling people to vote a certain way or stay at home.
You don't find any of those acts reprehensible enough. It's the moans and whines of an anonymous Internet user that's your veritable evidence of the evil in the average Nigerian.
You need help

Dribbled myself into a corner by stating an obvious fact that majority of Nigerians are terrible people? Anyway, it is not my fault that you have a mindless bias. Keep all your baseless conspiracy theories and assertions for your family members and other sheep, or come with evidence and responsibility. You need God.

I don't usually try to solve a problem by attacking it directly. Instead, I focus on analysing the underlying issues that give rise to it. Solve those root causes, and the major problem often disappears on its own.
Regarding the issue of why many Nigerians make poor civic decisions, I believe one of the fundamental causes is the low level of access to, and adoption of, quality education in the country.

Yesterday afternoon, I witnessed something in my community that reinforced this belief.

I saw an elderly woman, probably in her late fifties, emerge from a corner of the street carrying a notebook. She called over another woman who owns a provision shop and asked for her PVC.

The shop owner handed it over.

The elderly woman then explained that a certain individual (name withheld) was collecting people's voter card details. According to her, the information would be used to process payments connected with the upcoming election in one of the South-West states.

What happened next was even more disturbing.

An elderly man who had been listening immediately tried to get himself included. He asked whether he could also submit his voter card. The woman replied that he should meet another person who was coordinating registrations for the men in the community.

At that moment, I realised almost everyone around believed there was nothing wrong with what was happening.

I wanted to speak up. I wanted to explain that they were unknowingly participating in a system that would ultimately work against their own interests. But I couldn't bring myself to interrupt the moment, and I left feeling deeply disappointed in myself.

As I looked at those women, I couldn't help but think about how much hardship they had already endured. Yet they did not realise that what they were about to do, trading away the integrity of their votes for a small immediate benefit, would only deepen the very suffering they hoped to escape.

This brings me back to my main point.

Education changes the way people think. It equips them to recognise manipulation, question suspicious offers, and understand the long-term consequences of short-term decisions.

I have had the privilege of earning two degrees. That education has trained me to recognise bad intentions long before they become obvious. It is not because I am inherently wiser than anyone else; it is because education has shaped how I analyse situations.

Imagine if the people in that community possessed even half that level of civic awareness. That entire vote-buying operation would likely have collapsed before it even gained momentum.

Instead, people were unknowingly recruited into a process that ultimately works against their own future, and many of them participated enthusiastically because they simply did not understand the consequences.

This is why I believe Nigeria's greatest challenge is not merely corruption. It is the widespread lack of quality education and civic enlightenment. An informed population is far more difficult to manipulate, and without citizens who can critically evaluate political incentives, the cycle of corruption will continue to reproduce itself generation after generation.