Nigerian music superstar Davido has stirred controversy with his recent comments on Nigeria’s economy during an appearance on the Big Homies House podcast. The 32-year-old Afrobeats icon advised Black Americans against relocating to Nigeria, citing issues like poor leadership, a high exchange rate, and rising oil prices.
Davido’s remarks ignited a fierce online debate, with political figures and citizens weighing in on the state of Nigeria’s economic progress. Among his critics were All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Joe Igbokwe and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, who accused the singer of misrepresenting Nigeria’s advancements under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a Facebook post, Joe Igbokwe expressed disappointment over Davido’s statements. “My in-law Davido has made me sad by telling the world in America that Nigeria’s economy is in shambles,” he wrote. “This is very sad. I will advise him to retract the statement ASAP. Nigeria made Davido. QED!!!”
Reno Omokri also refuted Davido’s assertions, citing examples of recent economic milestones. He highlighted Wizkid’s achievement of over 12 million Spotify streams for his latest album in Nigeria on the same day Davido made his comments. Omokri further referenced a $2.5 billion investment by JBS SA, the world’s largest meat producer, in Nigeria’s agriculture sector, arguing that this reflects global confidence in the nation’s economic potential.
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Omokri detailed additional indicators of progress, such as Nigeria’s foreign reserves reaching $40 billion, a year-to-date high, and improvements in non-oil revenue. He also noted the positive reviews of Nigeria’s economy by international agencies like Fitch and S&P Global Ratings.
Omokri praised recent reforms, including the liberalization of fiscal policies and the Electricity Bill, which have contributed to macroeconomic stability. He cited International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, who described Nigeria’s economic reforms as “decisive” and transformative during the G20 Summit in Brazil.
While some Nigerians supported Davido’s critique, others criticized him for overlooking the country’s economic strides. The divide underscores the complex reality of Nigeria’s economy, where major reforms coexist with the day-to-day struggles of ordinary citizens.
