Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has faced criticism on X after suggesting that starting small-scale businesses such as akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli requires little capital.
Speaking in a video while highlighting the administration’s support for small businesses through grants, the First Lady said such ventures can be started with minimal resources and stressed that the government had provided grants, not loans, to support Nigerians.
Her comments sparked mixed reactions online, with many users arguing that the advice does not reflect the harsh economic realities currently facing millions of Nigerians.
Some critics described the remarks as insensitive, saying the country’s inflation, rising fuel prices and economic hardship have made even small businesses difficult to sustain.
Others accused the administration of offering temporary relief instead of addressing broader economic challenges affecting businesses and livelihoods.
However, some users defended the First Lady, noting that businesses like akara and roasted corn sales remain viable and profitable for many Nigerians, adding that such ventures have supported families and funded education over the years.
The backlash against Oluremi Tinubu comes at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with rising living costs, high inflation, and the economic impact of recent government reforms.
Since President Bola Tinubu took office in 2023, policies such as fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms have led to increased transport costs, higher food prices, and mounting pressure on households and small businesses.
Against this backdrop, comments from public officials on economic survival often attract strong public scrutiny, especially when many citizens feel disconnected from the realities of governance.
The First Lady’s remarks, intended to highlight the government’s small business grant initiatives, have now added to the broader public debate over whether the administration’s interventions are enough to ease the economic hardship facing ordinary Nigerians.
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