Businessman Isaac Fayose has criticized Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, over his recent comments comparing fuel prices in the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
Omokri had earlier posted on Facebook, noting that petrol in the UK has risen to about N3,200 per litre, which he said is almost three times higher than what Nigerians pay. He also linked the increase to global factors, including the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
However, his statement sparked mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians disagreeing with his comparison.
Reacting in a Facebook post, Isaac Fayose questioned why Omokri did not consider the difference in income levels between both countries before making the claim.
Fayose pointed out that while Nigeria’s minimum wage is about ₦70,000 per month, workers in the UK earn significantly more, making the comparison unfair.
He explained that if a Nigerian worker spends ₦1,400 per litre of fuel, a large part of their monthly income would go into transportation alone, leaving very little for food, housing, and other basic needs.
He further noted that in the UK, minimum wage workers earn about £12 per hour, which adds up to around £25,000 yearly, roughly equivalent to about ₦50 million in Nigeria.
In contrast, he said Nigeria’s annual minimum wage is below ₦1 million, making survival far more difficult.
Fayose questioned Omokri’s logic, asking how an average Nigerian is expected to cope with ₦70,000 monthly income under current economic conditions.
He also accused the former presidential aide of trying to defend policies without considering the everyday struggles of ordinary citizens.