Nigerians have reacted with anger to the federal government’s new “Free TV” initiative, with many saying it ignores the country’s more serious problems.
On X formerly known as Twitter, many people questioned the idea, pointing out that millions of Nigerians do not have steady electricity to power a television. Others noted that many people cannot afford the equipment needed to access the service.
Some also said that because of the country’s economic struggles, many families have already sold their television sets, making the initiative of little use to those it is meant to help.
Many critics focused on the timing of the announcement. They argued that Nigerians are currently dealing with rising living costs, higher fuel and cooking gas prices, bad roads, growing insecurity, and the continued kidnapping of schoolchildren by bandits. According to them, the government should focus on solving these problems instead.
Others suggested the initiative was more about promoting the government’s message than helping citizens. One commenter described it as a tool for “unison” propaganda, while others joked that the channels would be more useful in wealthy areas such as Aso Rock, where electricity is more reliable.
