Lere Olayinka, an aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has challenged Gen Z Nigerians over their perception of the country’s economic situation.
He argued that many young Nigerians only began to understand economic difficulties when they became adults and started providing for themselves.
Speaking during an interview with AIT, Olayinka cited technological advancement and people building houses as reasons Nigerians should reconsider the narrative of widespread hardship.
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has stirred reactions after challenging Gen Z Nigerians over their complaints about economic hardship.
During an interview with African Independent Television (AIT), uploaded on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Olayinka argued that Nigeria had improved compared with previous years, despite the economic difficulties facing citizens. He also pointed to people building houses as evidence that economic activities were still taking place
Why Wike’s aide says Gen Z Nigerians misunderstand hardship
Olayinka suggested that some young Nigerians might not fully understand the country’s economic realities because their parents catered for their needs while they were growing up.
According to him, many members of Gen Z only started experiencing the pressure of the economy when they became adults and had to take responsibility for their own upkeep.
He explained that growing up without worrying about providing for themselves gave some young Nigerians a different impression of the country’s economic situation.
“Now they have seen, they have to provide for themselves.”
Olayinka recalls how difficult journalism used to be
The FCT minister’s aide also used his experience in journalism to highlight how much Nigeria had changed, particularly in technology.
He recalled travelling by road from Bauchi to Jos to transmit news reports. At the time, journalists also had to transport video recordings in VHS cassettes to television stations.
However, he said technological advancement had made content creation and distribution easier, creating opportunities for people to earn money through social media without leaving their homes. Gen Z
“Now, technology has even provided jobs for a lot of people,” he said.
‘People are building houses,’ Olayinka tells Nigerians
Olayinka also criticised what he described as the constant emphasis on hunger in Nigeria, arguing that the country should not be portrayed by Gen Z as though nothing positive was happening.
He pointed to ongoing construction activities as evidence that economic activities were still taking place despite the challenges facing citizens.
Emphasising his position, the Wike aide said:
“So let us not keep this mindset of telling people there’s hunger, there’s hunger, there’s hunger, there’s hunger. People are building houses now, today, as we are talking.” Gen Z
He also noted that homelessness existed in developed countries, arguing that the government’s responsibility was to create an environment where citizens could pursue opportunities and improve their living conditions.
“The only thing the government can do is to provide an enabling environment,” he added.
Meanwhile, The FCT minister Wike spoke at the commissioning of the Gwagwalada Civic Centre, where he also urged residents to support President Bola Tinubu and candidates endorsed by the coalition in the 2027 elections.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised politicians questioning the existence of the Rainbow Coalition, accusing them of lacking the ability to unite their families and communities as he rallied support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mr Wike spoke on Monday, 2 November 2026, in Abuja, during the commissioning of the Gwagwalada Civic Centre and an interactive meeting with stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gwagwalada Area Council.
The minister defended the coalition, which brings together political stakeholders from the two parties, arguing that political differences should not prevent leaders from working together in the interest of residents. Continue reading here.
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