A Nigerian man residing in the United Kingdom has ignited a fiery online discussion after publicly lamenting the colossal amount he pays annually for a one-bedroom apartment, converting the sum to Nigerian Naira.
From HOD in Nigeria to High Rent in the UK
The man, who identified himself as a former head of department in Nigeria, took to the popular video platform TikTok to share his financial burden. In a video that has since gone viral, he calculated his total yearly rent and expressed shock at the Nigerian Naira equivalent.
The figure he revealed was a staggering 23 million Naira. Overlaying text on the video read, "So like this I don spend 23million naira for yearly house rent of one bedroom flat - money wey go reach me to build hotel." His core grievance was that the same amount of money spent on rent abroad in one year could have been used to construct a hotel back home in Nigeria.
Netizens Clash Over Cost and Conversion
The man's claim that N23 million could fund a hotel project in Nigeria became the central point of contention. Many Nigerians quickly challenged this assertion, arguing that construction costs in the country have risen far beyond that sum.
One user, Fizzybest, countered, "Oga it can't build any hotel for u, it can only buy u Rods, cements sand, cheapens and some of the materials thats all. money doesn't have value here." Another commenter, China money ??????, questioned the diaspora's perception of value, asking, "Why people in abroad Dey feel say 20m na big money for Nigeria? That money can’t even get you a plot of land in a good location."
Other reactions focused on the mental toll of constantly converting foreign currency to Naira. User alooma makaveli77 advised, "For the past 10 years I nor dey convert am again ooo, make high blood pressure nor kpai me." Some, like Ice, offered a sarcastic solution: "Make una comot there nah, come nigeria rent no Dey expensive. No make me vex o."
A Common Diaspora Dilemma
This incident highlights a frequent point of discussion among Nigerians living abroad: the jarring comparison between living costs in their host countries and the perceived value of that money back home. The debate often extends beyond finances to encompass the overall quality of life and long-term goals.
The conversation also touched on the broader experience of Nigerians in the UK, with user MegaSam reflecting on the irony: "Almost everybody dey complain for UK say them no dey Ok and me dey reason how to japa abi make I just dey oh...later if funds choke then I go for vacation."
This story, originally reported by Victor Duru for Legit.ng on December 29, 2025, underscores the complex emotional and financial calculations that define the diaspora experience for many Nigerians.
