Earning N1,500 Daily Is ‘A Lot of Money’ for Many Nigerians, Says Tinubu’s Aide

The Tinubu administration has stirred controversy with a recent statement claiming that earning N1,500 per day—approximately $1—is “a lot of money” for many Nigerians, even as the country grapples with deepening economic challenges.

Dr. Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs, made the remark during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast. In his view, the amount is sufficient for daily sustenance despite soaring inflation and a sharp decline in purchasing power.

“$1 is N1,500. Earning $1 per day, that is a lot of money for many Nigerians,” Fasua said, asserting that the concept of purchasing power parity should guide economic discussions. He argued that while $10 may not be enough for a meal in the United States, a significantly smaller amount can still provide a decent meal in Nigeria—if one knows where to look.

He cited examples from local communities like Gwarinpa and Port Harcourt, where N1,500 could reportedly buy a filling roadside meal of roasted plantain and fish.

Fasua also compared Nigeria’s poverty levels with global trends, maintaining that suffering exists everywhere. However, he said Nigeria’s communal lifestyle and family structures provide a social cushion absent in many developed countries. “Here is a place where you could go and stay with your brother or your sister, get something to eat and so on. You could even stay with them for a few months,” he noted.

He further rejected international poverty benchmarks such as the widely used $2 per day metric, arguing that such standards do not accurately reflect Nigeria’s rural realities. “In villages of Nigeria, you don’t even need one dollar to survive a day when you have your farm, and you can actually eat something, and you are okay,” he said.

The remarks arrive amid a backdrop of economic distress in the country. Inflation—particularly for food—has surged to record levels, the naira continues to weaken against foreign currencies, and unemployment remains high. Fasua’s comments have drawn criticism from citizens and analysts alike, many of whom say the government is out of touch with the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians.