A video of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has sparked widespread reactions after he urged citizens to remain hopeful amid ongoing economic hardship and a worsening fuel crisis.

In the video, Tinubu said Nigerians should appreciate their situation, claiming the country is better off than Kenya and other African nations, according to Punch.

His remarks quickly triggered debate online, with many Nigerians criticising the comparison and pointing to rising living costs, insecurity, and inflation.

One social media user questioned the comparison, highlighting challenges such as frequent violence, high fuel prices, rising taxes, and poverty. Another user said African countries are often compared during hardship, while Western standards are used when it comes to taxation.

@Tklemofficcial, commented, “From a president of one of the largest black nations in the world. With crazy insecurity, killings everyday across the country, no power supply, fuel prices are at an all time high, crazy taxes, poverty rate rising to over 63%.”

@Lord_strange98, posted, “They compare our standard of living to those in Kenya and other parts of Africa but when it’s time to Tax and bill us they compare ours to those European and well developed countries.”

The comments come as global fuel markets face pressure due to geopolitical tensions, including disruptions linked to conflict affecting the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices have risen sharply in recent weeks, adding strain to already struggling economies.

Kenya has also been affected by fuel supply concerns, with recent reports of market instability and governance challenges in the energy sector.

The situation has contributed to broader concerns across Africa, as rising global oil prices continue to impact transport, food costs, and general inflation.

Tinubu’s remarks continue to divide opinion, with supporters saying he was encouraging resilience, while critics argue the comparison was inappropriate during a period of economic difficulty.