A viral video of a roadside corn seller claiming to earn more than N2.5 million monthly has triggered widespread debate on social media, with Nigerians divided over the credibility of the figure.

The clip, shared on X on Sunday by user #ChuksEricE, showed a woman asking the seller about her monthly earnings. In response, the trader said she makes “like N2.5 million” every month.

It was not immediately clear whether the video was a staged content creation skit or an unscripted street interview, but it quickly gained traction across X and Instagram, attracting thousands of reactions.

Many users questioned the claim, arguing that the numbers did not add up. Some attempted to estimate the daily profit required to reach such an amount, while others suggested the seller may have misunderstood the question or exaggerated her earnings.

Others, however, refrained from dismissing the claim outright, with some asking whether she had additional sources of income outside the seasonal corn business.

A number of users also expressed concern that publicising such earnings could expose the trader to security risks, while others responded with humorous comments about the viral interview.

The renewed discussion comes weeks after First Lady Oluremi Tinubu encouraged Nigerian women to embrace low-capital businesses such as roasting corn, frying akara and producing kulikuli, describing them as viable ventures that could benefit from grants rather than loans.

Her remarks drew mixed reactions, with critics arguing they failed to reflect the economic realities facing many Nigerians amid rising inflation and unemployment.

President Bola Tinubu later defended the comments, saying the Federal Government’s empowerment programmes extend beyond corn and akara sellers to include traders dealing in tomatoes, pepper, vegetables and roasted plantain. He also disclosed that the government provided N100 million to the Jigawa State Government to support 2,000 petty traders with grants of N50,000 each under the Renewed Hope Initiative.

The President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, also defended the First Lady, saying critics had overlooked the broader interventions of the Renewed Hope Initiative in women’s empowerment, healthcare and support for vulnerable groups.

The conversation has since extended beyond social media, recently featuring in an examination at Prince Abubakar Audu University in Kogi State, where students were asked to prepare an advocacy advertisement based on the First Lady’s remarks, reflecting the continued public interest in small-scale businesses and economic empowerment.

(Photo Credit: Punch Newspapers)