“Yahoo Is Helping Nigeria’s Economy” — Nollywood Actor Ugo Nwokolo Defends Internet Fraud Amid Hardship

Nollywood actor Ugo Nwokolo has sparked reactions after claiming that internet fraud, popularly known as Yahoo, has helped keep Nigeria’s economy afloat amid the country’s economic hardship.

Speaking during a video discussion, Nwokolo said the high cost of living and rising house rents have made it difficult for many civil servants to survive on their salaries.

According to him, workers earning between ₦50,000 and ₦90,000 monthly cannot afford the millions of naira required to rent houses in cities like Abuja and Lagos.

“Personally, I think Yahoo has helped keep the economy afloat. Do you expect a civil servant to afford house rent of ₦3 million or ₦5 million in Abuja?” he said.

The actor also questioned how low-income earners could cope with other rising expenses, including the cost of clothing, arguing that only wealthy people, including internet fraudsters, seem able to afford such lifestyles.

“If you go to Lagos now, the least you’ll see for a two-bedroom apartment is about ₦7 million or ₦8 million. Who is supposed to afford it? The civil servants? Of course, it’s the fraudsters,” he added.

Nwokolo, however, said he was not encouraging criminal activities. He maintained that his comments were meant to highlight the economic realities many Nigerians are facing.

“I’m not justifying crime, but yes, Yahoo is helping the economy. How do you expect people to live in this kind of economy?” he said.