Nigerian actor Ugo Nwokolo has sparked significant debate by suggesting that the prevalence of internet fraud, locally known as Yahoo, has acted as a catalyst for economic survival in the country. During a recent video appearance, Nwokolo pointed to the severe disparity between stagnant civil servant wages and the exorbitant cost of living in major cities.
Highlighting the financial strain on workers, the actor noted that individuals earning between N50,000 and N90,000 monthly are completely priced out of the rental markets in locations like Abuja and Lagos. He argued that with luxury apartments now demanding rents as high as N8 million, legitimate earners simply cannot compete. According to Nwokolo, those involved in illegal internet activities are among the few who possess the necessary liquidity to navigate these high costs.
While explicitly stating that he does not support criminal behavior, Nwokolo maintained that the influx of funds from these illicit sources remains a reality of the current economic landscape. He concluded by questioning how else citizens are expected to maintain a standard of living under such harsh inflationary pressures.