A roasted corn seller has ignited a fierce online debate after claiming she earns approximately N2.5 million every month from her business. The short video, shared on X by @ChuksEricE on Sunday, July 7, shows someone asking the woman about her monthly earnings. Her reply, "Per month I make like 2.5 million," quickly spread across social media, drawing thousands of reactions.
It remains unclear whether the clip was a spontaneous street interview or a content creation skit. Nonetheless, the claim has sparked widespread discussion about the realities of small-scale trading in Nigeria.
Nigerians Question the Figures
Many social media users expressed skepticism about the woman's claim. Some argued that the figure likely represents total sales rather than profit, while others dismissed it as exaggerated or misunderstood.
X user @LinusNedu commented: "Looking at the video is very possible, but that should be her total sales, not profit. In that stand, you can see more than 20 corns at a time, plus pears and coconuts. If she’s in a good position, she can easily sell more than 100 plus daily."
Another user, @ZunaGroup, dismissed the claim entirely: "There are always outliers in businesses, but this woman is not making 2.5 million monthly, impossible."
Some users suggested the seller may have exaggerated or misunderstood the question. @Challplanet24 asked: "Does she make this amount or what she is aspiring to make?"
@labalingo added a broader perspective: "She might be making it, but if you think it's the same for every Akara + Corn seller, na delulu dey worry you. It'll be like a foreigner thinking 'money na water' applies to all Nigerians. Or a foreigner thinking all Nigerians live in fancy mansions after watching Nollywood."
@Sire_Sammi challenged the claim with a practical test: "Nigerian bloggers know how to escalate any ridiculous thing. When someone makes this kind of claim, first ask them how much they make per day. How many hours they work per day, how much they make per week, and how many times they work per week, and watch them crumble. Can this one count 2.5 million naira if given to her?"
Viral Video Revives Debate Over First Lady’s Comments
The discussion is linked to recent remarks by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who encouraged Nigerian women to consider low-capital businesses such as roasting corn, frying akara, and producing kulikuli. She argued that such ventures could provide sustainable income and deserved grants instead of loans.
Those remarks attracted criticism from many Nigerians, who said they did not reflect the country's economic realities, including rising inflation, high food prices, and unemployment. The First Lady later clarified that the government's empowerment programme extends beyond corn and akara sellers, also supporting traders dealing in tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, and roasted plantain. She disclosed that the Federal Government gave N100 million to the Jigawa state government to support 2,000 petty traders, with each beneficiary receiving N50,000 through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Group Defends First Lady’s Akara Comment
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Renewed Hope Neighbour 2 Neighbour defended the First Lady's remarks, stating that critics misunderstood her statement. The group explained that her examples of selling akara, kuli-kuli, and roasted corn reflected the Renewed Hope Initiative's focus on entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, and financial support.
The viral corn seller video has thus reignited conversations about the viability of small businesses in Nigeria's current economy, with many calling for more context and transparency in such claims.
