Nigerian comedian Basketmouth has expressed deep frustrations about the current state of Nigeria’s economy and the leadership that governs it. During an interview with the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA), he highlighted the alarming rise in inflation and the depreciation of the naira, emphasizing how these economic challenges have severely impacted the lives of everyday Nigerians.
Reflecting on the dramatic shift in the naira’s value, Basketmouth remarked, “There’s nothing that can happen, quote me anywhere. Think about it, in 1970, the year I was born, it was one naira to a dollar, and this year it’s one dollar to 1,600 naira. There was never a time from that point to now that the dollar crashed and went back to what it was and stayed there. It has never happened.”
He criticized the popular Nigerian saying, “E go better” (meaning “It will get better”), pointing out that instead of improvement, conditions have continued to worsen. He questioned the government’s policies and their effectiveness, citing the recent increase in passport fees, which now costs 100,000 naira for just 100 pages.
Basketmouth speculated that the government might be intentionally creating economic hardship to push citizens toward the idea of “japa,” a term used for emigrating in search of better opportunities. He stated, “I suspect that our government planned this thing to make the Nigerian population suffer. So that when they suffer, they can now want to japa, then they will increase the price of the passport and make money.”
With a touch of sarcasm, he concluded, “It’s not like I’ve given up hope; I’m hopeful. Maybe one day, the country will be better. Let’s all believe in that pipe dream. It’s done; it’s over.”
His candid remarks reflect the frustration felt by many Nigerians regarding the ongoing economic crisis and the challenges posed by leadership in the country