Tonia is a businesswoman, a safety and first-aid officer at an oil-servicing company, and a passionate Nigerian citizen. In March 2023, during the state governorship elections, this passion was put on centre stage when police officers invaded her polling unit to hijack ballot boxes. Tonia caught the entire event on camera. This is Tonia鈥檚 story, as told to Tezor Dedam.

It all started in March 2023, at the polling unit situated at Holy Family Catholic Church, Woji, Port Harcourt, during the governorship election. On that fateful day, we had all cast our votes, and it was time for counting. Suddenly, we saw a Hilux and a Sienna pull up, driving quickly right into the compound and parking directly in front of us.

At the time, we were already hearing reports that other polling units were being attacked by unknown people, so seeing them appear out of nowhere made evryone tensed. Some people stood far away, and some were close by. I was among those who stood around. Their arrival was abrupt, but I noticed the workers (INEC officials) did not run; they stood their ground.

That was when I immediately turned on my video and started recording. I just held my phone close to my chest, so no one would really know that I was making a video. In that moment, one of the men who had arrived then started instructing them,

鈥淐arry the box!鈥�

鈥淭hey should take everything and move, take it into the car!鈥�

Then people started to lightly protest, asking 鈥淲here are you taking our boxes to?鈥�

Throughout all of this, I was still recording. One of the police men then walked past me and noticed I was making a video. He walked past the first time, then he walked past again and grabbed my phone.

Meanwhile, I could see that the Sienna was still parked there, filled with young men who didnt look like police officers but had come with them. After the officer grabbed my phone, I started shouting, 鈥淕ive me my phone, give me my phone!鈥� I followed them and kept shouting.听

When people saw that I was unafraid and making a stand, they joined in: 鈥淕ive her her phone!鈥� I think that overwhelmed the officer; he didn鈥檛 see that coming. And God so kind, the video was still on, and I then dragged my phone from him. 

He entered the vehicle with the polling boxes and one of the men from the accompanying Sienna came from behind and pointed at me, saying, 鈥淵ou, I will kill you鈥�. He repeated this a few more times. He then got into the Sienna as they drove off with the police.

I remember saying to myself that I had their plate number. And that was how they left with their boxes. Fortunately, people started coming back to ask for the video and sharing it on social media. Over the next few days, I had gotten calls and messages from people saying that they had seen my video and heard my voice. I started seeing it get reposted on major channels and on media stories, that was pretty much how that unfortunate incident made me go viral.

In 2008, Collins moved to Malaysia at 19 years old. For the next 12 years, he lived in Malaysia, the Maldives, and Singapore. For most of his stay in Asia, his girlfriend鈥檚 father鈥檚 company had been sponsoring his visa. In 2020, he returned to visit his family in Port Harcourt. During this time, he had a fallout with his girlfriend, and over the next few weeks, she had his visa cancelled.

Later that year, he made a friend through his younger brother. This friend, a travel agent, had assured Collins that he could help him get a job in Europe, since the agent had lived and worked in Cyprus.

鈥淚 trusted him, and I gave him 鈧�2 million to get me a job鈥�

A month later, the agent called Collins with news of a job in Norway. He sent the job agreement, which Collins took to Abuja to further the process. At the end of this process, he spent an additional total of 鈧�4.38 million on biometrics, authentication of results, verification of bank statements, work permits, domestic flight tickets, etc. 

A few weeks later, he got an email from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abuja, stating that he had been banned from entering Europe for the next five years for forging a job agreement. He tried to reach out to the agent, who was back in Cyprus, but to no avail.

According to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), between 2022 and 2023. This represents a growing number of people like Collins who have successfully relocated in the past. But it also represents a wider group of people, like Collins, who are still trying to leave Nigeria. That鈥檚 a wide pool of people who can get scammed. So we did the hard work for you. Here is where to get help if you have been scammed by a travel or 鈥渏apa鈥� agent.

Alert your bank, ASAP

You may sense you鈥檝e been scammed in an instant, or it may slowly dawn on you. Either way, the moment everywhere starts to blur, contact your bank. Give them all the details: the amount, transaction date, recipient bank details, etc. You should probably also provide evidence of your communication with them. If the bank is too slow, contact the  after a few days. The bank can freeze the said account if you act promptly and with enough evidence.

National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA)

The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) oversees travel agents and tour operators in Nigeria. You should have checked with them to verify your agent, but it鈥檚 probably too late at this point, so you should to them. NANTA can use unspecified measures to sanction the agent. But if they are not a NANTA member, then this will not help much.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has an , an app, and an email address where you can contact them. Be prepared to apply more pressure and visit their offices in this case, because responses can be slow. You should also document all correspondence with the EFCC for evidence if you have to escalate the matter beyond them

Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC)

The FCCPC is typically used for consumer protection and can be overlooked in this case. But if the scammer used a registered agency that provides goods and services to consumers as a cover-up, the FCCPC has enforcement power to order refunds and escalate the matter further. Being that it serves as the apex consumer protection and anti-trust authority with a broad mandate across commercial sectors. You can reach them for free at or by email at contact@fccpc.gov.ng. 

Report in the person鈥檚 country – if they are abroad

If the scammer is abroad, you can also find the agencies responsible for fraud and scams in the respective countries. In the US, the FBI’s IC3 () takes reports. If they are in the UK, is the way to go. If they are in Canada, the is the responsible agency. If you can do this concurrently with filing complaints here in Nigeria, it could have a much stronger chance.

One of the saddest things about japa scams is that they prey on the simple desire for a better life. This better life is worth chasing; it just shouldn’t cost you everything.

Being a 鈥渟ide piece鈥� usually comes with a certain level of secrecy and drama. But what happens when you willingly choose to play the role?

These Nigerians are currently living the reality. From the unexpected perks and complicated arrangements to catching feelings and knowing exactly where they stand, they share the honest, messy and sometimes hilarious stories behind choosing to be the other person

鈥淗e was married, but I liked him too much to care鈥� 鈥� Seyi, 33, F

I met him at a work conference, and it was supposed to be a simple 鈥渉ey, I鈥檓 in town鈥� text, we meet up, have our fun, and keep it moving. However, it鈥檚 been everything but that. I like him more than I expected to, and I鈥檝e stopped pretending it’s only physical. Yes, he鈥檚 married and has two kids, but I鈥檓 not delusional enough to think he鈥檚 leaving his family for me. 

I鈥檝e actually reminded him to call family when he鈥檚 with me.听 But that doesn鈥檛 mean听 I intend to walk away. He isn鈥檛 asking me to be his second wife, and I鈥檓 not asking him to be my husband. We like each other and our current arrangement works.

“I鈥檓 his only side piece鈥� 鈥� Kay, 30, M

 I don鈥檛 care about my partner鈥檚 married life; that鈥檚 his business. I only have one rule: the same way he has one wife, he gets one side piece, and that鈥檚 me. I鈥檝e grown real feelings for him. We鈥檝e been together for 22 months and complement each other ridiculously well. At this point, we practically live together. I鈥檓 not here to tear his family apart, and I鈥檝e never asked him to choose. I鈥檓 just here because whatever this is works. 

鈥淚’m cheating on a man who is cheating on his wife鈥� 鈥� Mide, 26, F

I met this man at the mall. Handsome, tall, charming, the whole package. I genuinely didn鈥檛 know he was married at first, but eventually I started to suspect something. I confronted him, he confessed, and we moved past it.  We鈥檝e had a great run so far, but his audacity baffles me. He gets angry when he finds out I鈥檓 talking to other men and insists it鈥檚 cheating. Like, sir, what exactly are we doing? You鈥檙e married, so whatever we have can never be permanent. Yet whenever I bring up his wife, it suddenly doesn鈥檛 count. 

鈥淚 was sex-starved鈥� 鈥� T. J, 29, M 

I didn鈥檛 plan for it to happen, but I ended up with a married man because I was sex-starved and he was the only available option. I genuinely don鈥檛 know what I was thinking, but at the time, I didn鈥檛 care. As long as I got my orgasm, everybody could go home happy. Whenever he came to town, he鈥檇 send one text, and I鈥檇 practically be on my way.

It was only after I started exploring with other people that I realised it was a weird arrangement. I barely gained anything. He had money but was tightfisted.  The last time he sent an 鈥淚鈥檓 in town鈥� text, I simply replied, 鈥淲etin con happen?鈥� He eventually got the message, and we went our separate ways.

鈥淗e offered to take care of me, so I named my price鈥� 鈥�  Jo, 26,F

I became a side piece when school started swallowing me alive. My parents were struggling, and I couldn鈥檛 juggle work and school anymore. The 鈥渦ncles鈥� I thought would help were unreliable, and every offer of help attached sex as a condition. Then, one day, I met a man at a cyber cafe while making photocopies. 

He made small talk and asked for my number, but initially I refused. We met again later, and this time, I gave it to him. He started with sweet nothings, so I asked, 鈥淎re you married?鈥� Then he went silent, and that was my answer. He offered to take care of me if I agreed to be with him, and I also gave him my conditions. He鈥檚 kept his word so far. The sex is good, he gives me everything I need, and I know my place.

鈥淚 became a side piece and somehow got a referral鈥� 鈥� Ramon, 30, M 

I鈥檇 never been a side piece until I met a woman during COVID. I鈥檇 only seen women stop men in movies, so when it happened to me, my heart was racing. She rolled down her car window, asked my name and number, and that was that. Before we even got intimate, she had already started spoiling me. Nigeria is hard, so obviously, I gave in. Plus, she鈥檚 a MILF;  double blessing.  

When she was leaving the country, I worried that whatever we had would end. Instead, she introduced me to her friend. One woman became two, and suddenly, I had no reason to complain. Let me just say, life is good when women spend on you.

鈥淚 liked him even as a four-minute man鈥� 鈥� Alex,24, F

My friend introduced me to his cousin, and we started talking. I was single and didn鈥檛 mind giving it a chance. The chemistry was great and we spent a lot of time together. Unfortunately, he couldn鈥檛 last long in bed.  He blamed it on sugar, but I wasn鈥檛 bothered because I liked him. After some time, I noticed he鈥檇 always take off immediately after we had sex. He barely waited for aftercare or tried to ask if I enjoyed myself.  I started digging and found out he had a girlfriend. I still stayed because apparently, I had accepted my position as a side piece to a four-minute man.

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The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has faced growing criticism over the prominence of fake products in the Nigerian market.

In an engagement with journalists in Lagos on Monday, September 7, 2026, she was asked about calls for her resignation amidst concerns around her and the agency鈥檚 impact. She laughed quite dramatically, then dismissed the claims around her incompetence in office, citing her personal achievements.

Here鈥檚 a rundown of just how much the NAFDAC Director-General has done in her nine years in office.

Adeyeye鈥檚 report card

When Adeyeye was appointed in 2017, she prioritised to international standards. In her first meeting with the World Health Organisation (WHO), she called for the improvement of laboratory services in Oshodi and Yaba, Lagos State, to qualify NAFDAC for WHO accreditation. This also included training agency staff and improving customer service between the agency and the Nigerian market. 

Under Adeyeye鈥檚 administration, NAFDAC also claimed to commence for nationwide drug registration, leading to in international regulatory standards.

However, NAFDAC鈥檚 was to reduce substandard medicine in Nigeria by 5% or less by 2025. As of 2026, no unified figures can weigh the 5% target, but shows as much as a 25% prevalence of fake medicine and drugs without specification in open markets and from licensed vendors alike.

A flawed background

Adeyeye鈥檚 personal performance can be viewed distinctly from NAFDAC鈥檚 performance. It is important to consider factors like government funding, customs policing, and such as supply chain leaks and poor packaging disposal. 

In December 2024, Adeyeye mentioned that , hindering its regulatory duties. By January 2025, she again, claiming a workforce of 2,000 and tagging the number as grossly inadequate. According to her, ; the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOS) does. 

On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Adeyeye that counterfeit drugs are still in circulation due to gaps in regulation. She claimed that there are patents on drugs, and when these patents are removed, it allows for low-level versions of these drugs to enter circulation.

Where does Adeyeye鈥檚 responsibility end, and where does the Nigerian system鈥檚 accountability begin?

Nigeria and eye-service politics

Time after time, we have seen politicians deflect pressing issues with fancy grammar or surface-level achievements. 

We鈥檙e in a cost of living crisis, but President Tinubu to the stock market, infrastructure and foreign reserves as progress. When Nyesom Wike was accused of borrowing money for FCT projects without National Assembly approval, House of Representatives Deputy Spokesperson Rep. Philip Agbese responded by heaping praise on Wike instead of facing the matter at hand. Meanwhile, Nigerians are still waiting to be addressed on the issues that actually matter.

Oral sex (blow job, cunnilingus) can be intimate, awkward, overrated, or the best part of sex, depending on who you ask. Some people love giving it, others prefer receiving it, and for some, shame, self-consciousness or bad experiences make it difficult to enjoy.

We asked seven Nigerians to share how they really feel about oral sex. Here鈥檚 what they had to say.

鈥淚 enjoy giving, but receiving makes me self conscious鈥� 鈥� Uduak*, F, 23

Oral sex is great, and I particularly enjoy giving. I like knowing I can make my partner feel good. Receiving, however, makes me very self-conscious. I worry about how I look or smell and whether I鈥檓 doing everything right, even though none of my partners have ever complained. Social media and porn have also shaped how I see my body and what I think it should look like, so  I struggle to get out of my head long enough to enjoy myself. 

Overall, I鈥檓 a fan. I just wish I could relax when my partner is down there.

 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛  always have to lead to penetrative sex鈥� 鈥� Wura* F, 24

I once read that oral sex is sex, and that completely changed how I think about it. Most people treat it as foreplay, like something you do before the real sex begins. But I don鈥檛 agree. Oral sex can be the main event too, and I think we should start treating it as such. It doesn鈥檛  always have to lead to penetrative sex.

That said, I prefer giving.  I enjoy pleasing my partner, and there鈥檚 something about watching her  enjoy herself that makes me feel good too.

鈥淚t is an art form鈥� 鈥� Ukeme*, M, 32

People treat oral sex like a stop on the way to penetrative sex, but I think it鈥檚 an art form in its own right. It can听 feel vulnerable, intimate and, when there鈥檚 real attraction, incredibly pleasurable. I also think that it is an opportunity for partners to explore each other鈥檚 bodies and get familiar with areas that are more sensitive.听

Personally, I get more pleasure from giving than receiving. I always feel very powerful when a man鈥檚 dick is in my mouth.  Although I’m not into every form of oral sex, especially rimming, when I鈥檓 really attracted to a man, I鈥檓 open to exploring.

鈥淚t should be pleasurable for everyone involved鈥� 鈥� Joy*, F, 25

A lot of Nigerians grow up hearing that oral sex is dirty and not something decent people should do. That shame follows people into adulthood, even when they enjoy it. 

There鈥檚 also a double standard in how people approach it. Some men expect women to give them oral sex but refuse to return the favour because they consider it 鈥渘asty.鈥� Meanwhile, women who openly ask for what they want are often labelled whores. I鈥檇 like us to stop treating oral sex like a gendered obligation. If people choose to do it, it should be because everyone involved actually wants to and enjoys it.

鈥淭here’s unnecessary shame and awkwardness around it鈥� 鈥�  Josiah*, M, 28

I enjoy oral sex and like both giving and receiving, although I usually prefer to give. What  I don鈥檛 understand is the unnecessary shame and awkwardness people attach to it. Sometimes, that shame  gets in the way of people exploring something they might actually  enjoy. Still, I consider it a personal choice. People shouldn’t feel pressured to participate just because it鈥檚 considered normal or expected in romantic relationships.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pleasurable when you can navigate your partner鈥檚 body鈥� 鈥� Ima*, 25, F

There鈥檚 an expectation that oral sex with women should be automatically mind blowing, but that鈥檚 not always the case.  Especially in the beginning when you鈥檙e still figuring out what your partner enjoys. You have to learn how to navigate their body. 

I have no issues giving oral pleasure to women. With men, though,  it never works for me. My gag reflex gets in the way and I throw up whenever I try too hard. I鈥檓 always on the receiving end with my male partners and I find other ways to please them.

鈥淚 wish people were more open minded about it鈥� 鈥� Jacob*, M, 23

I鈥檝e never had the chance to give oral sex, but I鈥檝e received and enjoyed it. Despite having access to so much information, I think many people听 are still misinformed about sex because they鈥檝e never questioned what they were taught. A lot of those beliefs are听 rooted in shame

Personally, if something feels good and can be enjoyed safely and consensually, I don鈥檛 see why anyone should feel ashamed of it.  I just wish more people were curious, open-minded and willing to learn.

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Being a bridesmaid means standing beside your friend on one of the biggest days of her life. But somewhere between the asoebi, bridal shower and wedding reception, things can go very wrong.

We asked bridesmaids to tell us about the moment a wedding changed their friendship forever, and they had stories for days.

 鈥淚 was invited as chief bridesmaid, but became the help鈥� 鈥� Favour, 28 

She was my neighbour before we became friends. When she announced her wedding, she asked me to be her chief bridesmaid. I initially declined because the wedding was in her village, and I couldn鈥檛 afford the trip or asoebi. She begged me to come and promised to reimburse me, so I agreed.

I spent my savings travelling to Uyo, only to be treated like a house help. She tried to squeeze me and 11 other people into one hotel room, so I paid for another. Later, she showed up with six more people and expected me to accommodate them too.

The worst part came on the wedding day when I discovered she already had a chief bridesmaid. Apparently, my duties were holding her bags, bathing children, washing plates, and basically being her slave. I left during the wedding. She never called to ask why, and I never called her either.

鈥淎soebi ended our seven-year friendship 鈥� 鈥� Jessica, 27

My friend was getting married and added me to the asoebi group. She then called to sweet-talk me into buying it, even though I鈥檇 already told her I wouldn鈥檛 be around for the wedding. Maybe she thought I was bluffing because I really didn鈥檛 show up, and I obviously didn鈥檛 buy the asoebi. 

Still, I wanted to support her, so I decided to send her a monetary gift. I called several times, but she ignored me. When we finally met, she shared exactly how she felt. She was angry that I hadn鈥檛 bought the asoebi, and after we argued about it, she ended our seven-year friendship. Me? Sad ke? Congratulations to you and yours. 

鈥淚 was a bridesmaid, not the bride鈥檚 punching bag鈥� 鈥� Chiasoka, 33 

I was one of my friend鈥檚 bridesmaids, and from the moment we arrived at the venue, she started shouting at everyone. Someone misplaced her makeup bag and she screamed. When one of the bridesmaids sat down for five minutes, she yelled that we were 鈥渦seless.鈥�

I tried to stay out of it until she turned on  me because I didn鈥檛 bring her water quickly enough. She called me a lazy girl in front of everyone.  At that point, I just laughed because I could feel my crazy loading. I told her she was mannerless and uncouth, then walked away before I said something worse.

Instead of leaving empty-handed, I went to the servers and told them the bride wanted food packed in a cooler for her brother. I collected it, booked a ride, removed my gele and checked into a hotel.

鈥淪he befriended me because she needed someone for her bridal train鈥� 鈥� Anu, 28

I met this girl and immediately liked her. She approached me, our vibes matched, and she insisted we exchanged contacts. We talked for a week, met some girls for brunch, and we developed a bond. 

Then she told me she had returned to Nigeria to get married and wanted me on her bridal train. I was surprised , but happily accepted. I bought asoebi, attended rehearsals and showed up for  the wedding. Then, everything changed. She barely responded  to my texts or calls, and I realised she had returned to the UK.

When I confronted her, she admitted she鈥檇 only needed someone who fit the aesthetic she wanted for her bridal train because she barely had friends in Nigeria. I froze. A whole me? I cursed her out, and we blocked each other.

鈥淪he threw the cake and I threw hands鈥� 鈥� Olamide, 26

My friend鈥檚 bridal shower was going perfectly until one woman decided to become the villain. While playing a game, the host asked her to say something, but she refused. Then she started snapping at everyone asking her to participate.

To make it worse,  she said, 鈥淭he bride wouldn鈥檛 even be sitting here if it wasn鈥檛 for my brother.鈥�  Her words were completely disrespectful, so I told her to leave  if she was uncomfortable. She called me names and accused us of being leeches. I gave it right back to her.Then she threw the cake on the floor.

Something in me snapped. I attacked her before people pulled us apart. I expected my friend to understand why I鈥檇 reacted, but instead, she told me I was the one who had crossed the line.  That broke me. I had just fought for you. And somehow, I was the problem. I left the shower and that was the end of our friendship.  She has tried rekindling things since then, but I鈥檓 not interested. 

鈥淚 ruined my friend鈥檚 wedding night with one drunken confession鈥� 鈥� Lara, 34

My friend was getting married to a man I used to date. When we found out, we agreed to keep our past to ourselves. Whatever happened between us was over, and I didn鈥檛 see the point in hurting her with it.

A week before the wedding, I ran into him at a bar. We drank, talked about old times, and somehow, we slept together. I hated myself afterwards and blamed the alcohol. I decided I鈥檇 take the secret to my grave.

Then came the wedding. After the vows, my friend wouldn鈥檛 stop reminding me that I was the only single one left. 鈥淔ind a good man鈥�. 鈥淗e鈥檒l never be like mine.鈥� She kept going.  By the after-party, I was drunk, fed up, and tired of hearing it. I blurted out that I鈥檇 slept with her husband the week before which meant she was still in need of a good man too. 

Those words ruined everything.. They tried to save the marriage, but divorced three months later. Her husband still texts me. 

鈥� The bride didn鈥檛 like my joke鈥� 鈥� Ivie, 29

At my friend鈥檚 wedding, the MC asked a few of us to say something about the bride. I said plenty of sweet things, then turned to the groom and joked, 鈥淧lease be careful with my friend. She has small madness, so don鈥檛 bring it out.鈥� Everyone laughed, including the groom. But not the bride.

Later, she pulled me aside and asked how I could embarrass her like that. I genuinely didn鈥檛 understand. She said I鈥檇 disrespected her and made people think she wasn鈥檛 well-rounded. She was shouting at me, so I apologised and explained it was obviously a joke, but she wouldn鈥檛 hear it.

When the other bridesmaids joined us, they were confused too. I just hissed and walked away, annoyed. I texted her later the next day to apologise again. By then, she鈥檇  blocked me everywhere.

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Every morning, Omegie sends out food to a range of vendors, and it鈥檚 been a part of her daily routine. Every morning, except on Thursday, September 3, 2026, when she was left scrambling as her plans fell apart.

That morning, Omegie was dealing with late food delivery from vendors because the Uber ride-hailing app had shut down. She is an operations associate who works in the logistics/delivery department of a food & catering company in Benin.

For the past two years, their logistics had relied heavily on Uber鈥檚 existence because, according to her, 鈥渢hey were affordable, their drivers were polite and responsible, and because we deliver delicate items, they handled them with care.鈥� But that morning, Omegie and her co-workers were stranded between losing out on food deliveries and seeking out other transportation platforms.

In Lagos, Deborah has had to largely restructure her work and social life since Uber had been the core of her daily movements. She said, 鈥淯ber was preferred because it is safe, trusted, and for me personally, it was cheaper on the island鈥�.

The shutdown caught her in the middle of a typical day where she had to move between work, home, and a family function, leaving her wondering what might have gone wrong with the app. She got the update from social media that the company was leaving Nigeria on the very day her app went blank.

This sudden need for adjustment must have been the case for the thousands of Uber users in the country. This adjustment could have meant disrupted timelines, people being stranded mid-ride, and an abrupt absence of one of the country鈥檚 leading ride-hailing apps.

On Wednesday, September  2, 2026, Uber to customers that it would be winding down its operations in Nigeria, after being a major ride-hailing company in the country since its launch in 2014.

The company ironically clicked 鈥淓nd Trip鈥� on a 12-year journey in one of its earliest African markets: one email, zero prior notice, and plenty of stranded Nigerians.

Uber did not give a detailed reason for its sudden departure, leaving many to speculate about a and the of operating in Nigeria.

However strongly these speculations are felt, the truth remains that we do not know for sure why they left. What we do know is that Uber made a unilateral decision, and even though it pledged support for drivers in the email, it largely leaves drivers and riders to absorb the loss with zero recourse. With this decision, Uber has shown that it can disrupt nationwide services without having to explain itself. It also shows an apparent power imbalance that the company exploited. Nigerians did not appear to have any leverage in the entire thing. There was no regulator Uber had to answer to, no union to cause a ruckus, and no customer base whose loyalty they wanted to protect on their way out.

Why always us?

Uber is not the only foreign company to have treated its Nigerian customers this way.

From 2004 to January 2026, PayPal to 鈥渟end only,鈥� effectively blocking them from receiving funds on the platform while allowing them to send funds.

The American company cited fraud and weak identification systems as the reasons for its restriction on Nigerians. But interestingly, countries like Russia and the United States did not face these same restrictions, despite being first and fourth on the , with WCI scores of 58.39 and 25.01, respectively, against Nigeria鈥檚 21.28.

This obviously pokes some holes in PayPal鈥檚 explanation, leaving Nigerians to wonder about the true reason behind its decision. With the recent development, Nigerians are wondering why Uber has treated them with the same apparent disrespect. 

We, too, have wondered, and the closest we can come to an explanation is that PayPal and Uber鈥檚 actions might be a strong reflection of the Nigerian experience. Every day, Nigerians go through systems which demand that we absorb unexpected shocks. Either fuel subsidies are being overnight, national grids are without notice, or are greeting our loved ones mid-trip. 

So Uber might just be mirroring the exact systems that we have been subjected to 鈥� ones that take little to no accountability, internally or externally. These exact systems were cited in the of Glaskosmithkline, ShopRite, and Equinor – where these companies had to leave or largely scale back because of Nigeria鈥檚 macro-economic pressures.

The interesting thing is, Uber might end up fine, and Nigerians will probably survive this as well. But survival is different from being owed better. If a company leaves the Nigerian market carelessly after 12 years, then it is a strong verdict on where we stand as a country. For now, people like Omegie and Deborah are the ones paying the human costs.

For many Nigerian men, there鈥檚 an unwritten rule that their male friends shouldn鈥檛 date their sisters. But why does this rule exist? For some, it鈥檚 the infamous 鈥渂ro code鈥�. For others, it鈥檚 less about loyalty and more about knowing exactly how their friends treat the women they claim to love. 

In this story, we asked five Nigerian men why they鈥檙e uncomfortable with their friends getting romantically involved with their sisters, and what they鈥檇 do if their sisters chose to date them anyway.

鈥淢y friends are family so it feels weird鈥� 鈥� Faruk, 29 

I think of my friends as family, so the idea of one of them dating my sister just feels weird. I don鈥檛 want to be discussing relationship issues with my friends when it鈥檚 about my sister.听

There鈥檚 also the problem of what happens if the relationship goes wrong. If my friend cheated on her, would I tell her? I鈥檇 probably struggle because I鈥檓 loyal to my friend. If he became abusive, I might find myself making excuses for him because I know him, instead of reacting the way I would to a stranger. I can鈥檛 control who my sister dates, but I draw the line at my friends.

鈥淚 expect my friends to consider my sister as family鈥� 鈥� Joseph, 28

I see my friends鈥� sisters as family, so I don鈥檛 have any sexual interest in them. I expect my friends to think about my sister the same way, which is why I鈥檇 be uncomfortable if one of them told me he liked her. I鈥檇 make it clear that I鈥檓 not okay with it. If he still pursues the relationship, I鈥檇 withdraw from him and eventually end the friendship.

That said, I don鈥檛 get to decide who my sister dates. If she chooses my friend, I wouldn鈥檛 cut her off, but I’d be really annoyed. She鈥檚 free to make her choices, but there still needs to be some level of acceptance from me. Otherwise, it would make things uncomfortable for everyone.

鈥淭hey treat other girls badly鈥� 鈥� Michael, 26

I already know what will befall my sister if she dares to date any of my friends. My friends talk openly about their experiences, so I鈥檝e seen how some of them treat women. Some are reckless and verbally abusive. Also, they鈥檙e not dating with the intention to settle down; I don鈥檛 want my sister to waste her time like that. 

That said, the friends I have now are interested in marriage, so I wouldn鈥檛 have a problem with them approaching her.听 I don’t have a say in who she dates, but I hope that the relationship we have has taught her the ideal qualities to look for in a romantic partner.

鈥淢y friends are womanisers鈥澨�� Daniel, 30

Some of my friends are womanisers and aren鈥檛 ready to commit to one person. I don鈥檛 want that for my sister. But if she liked one of them and insisted on the relationship, I wouldn鈥檛 try to stop her. I鈥檇 tell her everything I knew about his behaviour so she could make an informed decision. My loyalty is to my sister because she鈥檚 family.  She deserves to know exactly what she鈥檚 getting into. 

鈥淭he age difference is too significant to ignore鈥� 鈥� Marthins, 32

I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 anything wrong with a man dating his friend鈥檚 sister. For me, it鈥檚 a matter of trust and, more importantly, age. My sister and I have a significant age difference, so I鈥檇 be disgusted and uncomfortable if one of my friends expressed interest in her. I also doubt she鈥檇 be ready for marriage anytime soon, which would make the situation even more uncomfortable for me. 

If she and my friend were around the same age and she was comfortable with him, I鈥檇 feel differently. Ultimately, I can only advise and look out for her, but the final decision is hers. 

ALSO READ: Nigerian Men on What They Want But Don鈥檛 Say in Relationships

Relocating for a relationship can mean leaving behind friends, family and the life you鈥檝e built. But the move doesn鈥檛 always guarantee a happy ending. For some people, it comes with the fresh start they hoped for, while for others, it leads to pain and regrets.

In this story, five Nigerians who have made the hard move for love get honest about their experiences. 

鈥淚 was doing unpaid work, then I found out he lied鈥� 鈥� Ajoke*, 22听

I met James* during the coronavirus lockdown in 2020. I was 17 and living in Calabar, while he was 26 and based in Port Harcourt. At the time, my father had disowned me after finding out I鈥檇 switched churches. James was building an app that allowed people to communicate without the internet, and our conversations about the project drew us closer. He eventually visited me, and I showed him around Calabar. Since we also planned to get married, I moved to Port Harcourt to be with him. I thought living together would help us build a stable future.

Instead, I ended up investing more in his project than in our relationship. I worked without pay and even secured a $10,000 grant to support the project. James spent half of the money on the project and the other half on himself and his family. I didn鈥檛 get a dime. The relationship eventually fell apart when I found out he鈥檇 only visited Calabar for his ex. He鈥檇 planned to get back with her, but she couldn’t see him when he arrived. I’ve learned never to alter my life plans for anyone again.

鈥淗e broke up with his girlfriend to be with me鈥� 鈥� Simisola*, 24

I left Lagos to be with my boyfriend in Ibadan last year. I didn’t expect much from the move; I just wanted to explore and seek new adventures in a different city. I鈥檒l admit that leaving my other boyfriends, friends, and family behind felt a little uncomfortable, but it changed my relationship for the better. My boyfriend finally broke up with his girlfriend and committed to me. Looking back, I would absolutely make the decision to move again. He’s rich, generous, and thoughtful; he cooks for me and buys me everything I want. I have everything I need here.

鈥淭he relationship became my entire life鈥� 鈥� Kenneth*, 27听

I met Felix* around 2019 or 2020 in Calabar, where both our families lived. I was studying in Port Harcourt but came home during the holidays, and that鈥檚 how we started dating. 

After school, moving back to Calabar felt like the natural next step since we were already together. I sacrificed a budding career and the community I鈥檇 built in the fashion scene. We already had problems with infidelity, so I hoped being closer would help us fix things. And for a while, it did. 

However, being together constantly started to change things. We lost the novelty of having separate lives, and the relationship became the centre of my life. Felix, on the other hand, kept making new friends and having new experiences. I felt so excluded, so I withdrew from everyone. Eventually,听I left for NYSC and we broke up.听

鈥淚 now have the freedom to imagine a future together鈥� 鈥� Daramfon* 29

My partner and I had been together for about four years when we moved to the UK two and a half years ago. Before that, we鈥檇 lived together on the Island in Lagos for about a year and seven months. Moving required real sacrifice; we both resigned from our jobs, and I had to stop my business. I also wasn鈥檛 sure our relationship was mature enough to handle such a huge decision. 

Our first visa application was denied, so we reapplied as unmarried partners. After it was approved, my partner stayed in Lagos to look for a job while I went ahead and settled in first. Being apart from her during that stretch was hard. When she finally joined me, I expected that life together would feel more settled. It did, but not in the way I imagined. Still, loving my partner openly and safely has given me the freedom to imagine a future together.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 move for her, but she鈥檚 now the reason I鈥檒l stay鈥� 鈥�听Janet*, 26听

I first met Hope* on Instagram in 2023, but she turned me down because she thought I was too young. Then we reconnected in 2025. At the time, I lived in Uyo, and she was in Lagos, but she only wanted us to be friends.

I later moved to Ibadan for NYSC, but the move had nothing to do with Hope. I wanted the change and saw it as an opportunity to experience a new city. Then, after camp, I visited her in Lagos. Spending that time together changed something between us, and our friendship eventually became a relationship.

Being with her has solidified my decision to settle in Ibadan; I don鈥檛 want to be too far away from her.

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the subjects.

Cab drivers hear a lot more than just directions to the next destination. From family and relationship dramas to conversations that probably should never have happened in public, these drivers often have front row seats to truly unhinged moments.

We asked some of them to reflect on what they鈥檝e experienced on the job, and they鈥檝e got stories for days. 

鈥淚 screamed before I remembered I was the driver鈥� 鈥� Adewale, 33

I鈥檝e been driving for years, and one thing about Uber is that the back seat can double as a free podcast. 

One morning, two ladies got into my car, already deep in conversation. One was telling her friend how her man had cheated on her days earlier. She confronted him, he got angry, and somehow, she ended up begging him.   Her friend kept shouting as if someone had died.  But that wasn鈥檛 even the wildest part of her story. The man had arranged a meeting between her and the other woman to 鈥渟ettle things,鈥� and she actually agreed to go. I don鈥檛 even know when I joined her friend in screaming. They both turned around, and I immediately switched my focus to the road.

“I鈥檓 glad I kept my opinions to myself that night鈥� 鈥� KC, 29

I鈥檝e been driving for three years, but one ride from 2023 is still fresh in my head. Around 9:30 p.m., I picked up two boys in Yaba. One seemed tipsy, and they were talking quietly in the back. I tried not to listen until I heard the tipsy guy apologising. His friend reassured him and joked about the Long Island he鈥檇 had.

Then the conversation changed. The tipsy guy started talking about how people had reacted when he held his hand and pulled him out of some chaos. A moment later, I heard a kiss. 

When I checked the rear-view mirror, they were holding hands, with the tipsy guy resting his head on the other鈥檚 shoulder. I was irritated because I was homophobic then. Looking back, I鈥檓 glad I kept my mouth shut. I clearly had some unlearning to do.

鈥淗e was embarrassed to have a woman driving him鈥� 鈥� Omolara, 27

One day, I picked up a man who barely acknowledged me. He looked moody, so I focused on driving. A few minutes into the trip, he called his friend and complained in Yoruba about being assigned a female driver. He said he felt like a 鈥減assenger princess.鈥�  Apparently, he鈥檇 been in a hurry and didn鈥檛 check my profile.  鈥淗ow can a woman be driving me around?鈥� he asked his friend. I couldn鈥檛 help laughing. Misogynistic men who don鈥檛 own cars? I鈥檝e seen it before. When we arrived, I smiled at him and said, 鈥淥dabo sir.鈥� The look on his face was priceless.

鈥淗e told me to get a girl pregnant so her bride price would be cheaper鈥� 鈥� Chris, 26

I once picked up an elderly man in his 60s who asked if I was married. I told him marriage wasn鈥檛 my priority because I was focused on building myself up. He hissed and told me my problem was probably the bride price. Then he suggested getting a girl pregnant out of wedlock because it would reduce her bride price. As if that wasn鈥檛 bad enough, he added that I should go for girls  between 17 and 21 because 鈥渢he older ones are wiser.鈥� 

I couldn鈥檛 believe my ears, but he wasn鈥檛 done.. He proudly told me he had two wives and an 18-year-old girl at the University of Ibadan ready to become his third. I called him a paedophile, but he was barely moved. He said  the word was 鈥渁 Western thing.鈥� We argued about morals until we reached his destination. At one point, I considered swerving, but I remembered I was the one who would have to pay for the car.

鈥淗e tried to get me fired after I refused to hide his drugs鈥� 鈥� Emezie, 43

I worked as a private driver for two months for a family whose son had just returned from the UK. One night, he was going to a party and asked me to pick up his friend. They started talking about what they had with them, but I wasn鈥檛 paying attention until I heard  鈥渕olly, weed, colos and coke鈥�. 

Around 1 a.m.,  his friend suddenly asked what would happen if the police stopped us. 鈥淒on鈥檛 worry, he鈥檒l hide it,鈥� the guy said,  referring to me. I immediately asked, 鈥淲ho is 鈥榳e鈥�? Then I told him that if the police caught us, I would deny both of them. Thankfully, we got to the party without incident. He later tried to get his mother to fire me until I told her everything. She took it up with him and retained me as his driver.

鈥淚 realised these boys had no idea what they were getting into鈥� 鈥� David, 37

I picked up four boys one evening, and they started discussing an orgy happening that weekend almost as soon as they got into the car. They talked about sharing, who they were excited to see, what they would drink to 鈥渓ast longer鈥� and how they would approach the girls. From the conversation, they sounded like complete amateurs. 

I鈥檝e attended my fair share of sex parties, so I knew they were walking into something they hadn鈥檛 prepared for. At one point, one of them started talking about going raw. I had to interrupt. I asked if there would be any testing beforehand, and they said no one had mentioned tests. I told them there were worse things than HIV and left it at that. 

Author: Nwachukwu Marisvega

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