Nollywood actor Ugo Nwokolo has sparked debate after claiming that internet fraud, popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo, has played a role in keeping Nigeria’s economy moving despite the country’s rising cost of living.
Speaking during a video discussion, the actor questioned how ordinary civil servants earning modest salaries could cope with the increasing cost of accommodation and other basic necessities.
He pointed to the huge rent being demanded in cities such as Abuja and Lagos, arguing that many workers simply cannot afford the current rates.
He said: “Personally, I think Yahoo has helped keep the economy afloat. Do you expect a civil servant to afford house rent of N3 million or N5 million in Abuja?”
Nwokolo further argued that the situation was even more difficult in Lagos, where he claimed that renting a two-bedroom apartment could cost between N7 million and N8 million.
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He questioned who could realistically afford such expenses on a regular salary.
He said:“If you go to Lagos now, the least you’ll see for a two-bedroom apartment is about N7 million or N8 million. Who is supposed to afford it? The civil servants? Of course, it’s the fraudsters.”
While stressing that he was not supporting criminality, Nwokolo maintained that the harsh economic climate had pushed many Nigerians into desperate situations.
He concluded:“I’m not justifying crime, but yes, Yahoo is helping the economy. How do you expect people to live in this kind of economy?”