Daniel Bwala has opened another heated debate on Nigeria’s “japa” conversation.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication said a Nigerian earning between £2,600 and £2,800 monthly in the United Kingdom could, in some respects, fare worse than someone earning ₦60,000 in Nigeria.

He made the claim during an appearance on the Morayo Afolabi Brown Show, where he argued that rent, power, internet, feeding and other bills consume most of the income earned by many UK-based Nigerians.

But the argument has a major problem. It reduces migration, income and quality of life to a simple salary comparison.

That comparison sounds provocative. It also sounds politically useful. But it does not fully reflect the hardship facing Nigerians at home.

Why Bwala’s Comparison Is Controversial

Bwala’s argument starts from a valid point. Many Nigerians abroad struggle. Some work long hours. Some take jobs below their qualifications. Some face loneliness, pressure and high bills.

But that does not make ₦60,000 in Nigeria a better economic position.

A Nigerian earning ₦60,000 today lives below the current national minimum wage of ₦70,000. The federal government agreed to the ₦70,000 minimum wage in 2024 after months of pressure from labour unions.

That alone weakens Bwala’s argument. If ₦70,000 already caused national debate over survival, then ₦60,000 cannot suddenly become proof of comfort.

£2,600 Is Not Perfect, But It Is Not ₦60,000

Bwala said UK bills can swallow most of a £2,600 salary. That can happen, especially in expensive cities.

The UK also has a serious rent problem. Official data from the Office for National Statistics showed that the average monthly private rent in the UK reached £1,383 in May 2026.

So yes, rent can hurt UK workers.

But the real issue is not whether the UK is expensive. The real issue is whether ₦60,000 in Nigeria gives a worker a stronger life.

It does not.

A ₦60,000 salary struggles against food prices, transport fares, rent, power costs, school fees and medical bills. Many Nigerian workers still fund their own security, water, electricity, health care and transport comfort.

That means they pay for poor public systems with private money.

Nigeria’s Cost of Living Makes the Claim Hard to Defend

Nigeria’s inflation problem also challenges Bwala’s claim.

In May 2026, Nigeria’s headline inflation rose to 15.93%, while food inflation climbed to 16.96%, according to figures attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Food takes a large share of low-income household spending. That means inflation hits a ₦60,000 earner much harder than it hits a high-income worker.

A person on ₦60,000 may spend most of that income on food alone. After transport, rent, electricity and data, little or nothing remains.

So the question is simple: how can someone call that person better off?

Family Support Is Not Economic Security

Bwala also argued that a Nigerian earning ₦60,000 can rely on relatives for help.

That point exposes the weakness of the statement.

Family support is not a wage system. It is not social security. It is not proof that the economy works.

If “Auntie Abike” or “Uncle Soso” must support a worker, then the salary has failed. A real economy should allow workers to meet basic needs without begging relatives for survival.

Using family support as an economic advantage also ignores pressure on those relatives. Many Nigerians support parents, siblings, cousins and friends at the same time.

That is not comfort. That is shared hardship.

Migration Is Not Only About Salary

Bwala’s statement also misses why many Nigerians leave.

People do not leave only because they want higher pay. Many leave because they want safety, stable electricity, better schools, stronger health care, fairer systems and clearer career paths.

Some migrants struggle abroad. But many still prefer systems where public transport works, hospitals respond better, salaries arrive on time and institutions feel more predictable.

That does not make the UK perfect. It only shows that migration decisions involve more than monthly income.

Tinubu’s Policies Do Not Erase Daily Hardship

Bwala also defended President Tinubu’s social policies. He mentioned a 50% dialysis subsidy in federal hospitals and free Caesarean section services.

Those interventions matter. Health care support can save lives.

But health subsidies do not cancel food inflation. They do not fix low wages. They do not lower rent. They do not create enough jobs for young Nigerians.

The government cannot answer a broad cost-of-living crisis with isolated policy examples.

Nigerians need affordable food, decent pay, safer communities, stable power and better public services. Without those basics, migration pressure will remain strong.

Expert View: The Claim Sounds More Political Than Economic

Bwala’s comment works as political messaging, but it fails as economic analysis.

A fair comparison must consider income, taxes, rent, health care, transport, inflation, savings potential, job security and public services. It must also compare individual circumstances.

A UK-based Nigerian earning £2,600 may struggle after bills. But a Nigerian earning ₦60,000 also faces daily financial pressure in an economy where prices keep rising.

The stronger argument should have been this: life abroad is not always easy, and Nigerians should understand the real cost before relocating.

That would be fair.

But saying a ₦60,000 earner in Nigeria may be better off than a UK worker on £2,600 sounds like an attempt to downplay the hardship at home.

Final Take

Bwala has raised a debate Nigerians understand deeply.

Life abroad can be hard. Japa does not guarantee wealth. Many migrants work tough jobs and face painful bills.

But ₦60,000 in Nigeria is not a symbol of economic comfort. It is a sign of how difficult survival has become for millions of workers.

The real solution is not to make Nigerians abroad look worse. The real solution is to make Nigeria work well enough that fewer citizens feel forced to leave.

FAQs

What did Daniel Bwala say about UK-based Nigerians?

Daniel Bwala said some UK-based Nigerians earning between £2,600 and £2,800 monthly may fare worse than Nigerians earning ₦60,000 in Nigeria because of high living costs abroad.

Why is Bwala’s statement controversial?

The statement is controversial because ₦60,000 is below Nigeria’s current ₦70,000 minimum wage and may not cover basic living costs for many workers.

Is life in the UK expensive for Nigerians?

Yes. Rent, taxes, bills and transport can consume a large part of a UK salary. But that does not automatically make ₦60,000 in Nigeria a better income.

Why do Nigerians still migrate despite the challenges?

Many Nigerians leave for better jobs, stronger public services, safer communities, better schools and more predictable systems.

What is the main flaw in Bwala’s argument?

The main flaw is that he compares salaries without fully weighing inflation, living standards, public services and the real cost of survival in Nigeria.