Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has directly addressed the online backlash over her recent comments regarding micro-businesses, declaring that the federal government will not be intimidated by "wrong reports" and will continue supporting the country's informal economy.

The controversy ignited after a video circulated online showing the First Lady urging struggling citizens to consider small-scale enterprises—like selling akara (bean cakes), roasted corn, and kuli-kuli (peanut snacks)—noting that they require very little capital to start. Many netizens slammed the remarks as insensitive and disconnected from the harsh economic realities currently facing Nigerians.

The First Lady Defends Her Stance in Jigawa

Speaking on Monday during a visit to Jigawa State—where she inaugurated the newly constructed Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia's Palace—Mrs. Tinubu used the platform to double down on her empowerment strategy.

“I know they have been talking. I said Akara, it’s not only Akara. We also have tomato sellers, we have Boli [roasted plantain], and those selling pepper, selling vegetables in the market, we’ll continue to empower them. I know all those who are affected will appreciate it, and we are not intimidated by all those wrong reports.”

— First Lady Remi Tinubu

Rather than scaling back, the First Lady expanded the scope of her message to include all facets of the market landscape, from pepper grinders to vegetable vendors.

₦100 Million Cash Influx for Petty Traders

To back her statements with action, Mrs. Tinubu announced a ₦100,000,000 support package targeting vulnerable women across Jigawa State. Funded through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), the financial aid breaks down into direct injections for the local market:

  • Total Grant: ₦100 Million non-repayable fund.

  • Target Beneficiaries: 2,000 local female petty traders.

  • Payout Per Person: ₦50,000 cash grant aimed at helping traders recapitalize and expand their micro-businesses.

Presidency Steps In to Defend the Initiative

As the online debate raged, presidential aides jumped to the First Lady's defense. Sunday Dare, the President's spokesperson on media and communications, argued that critics missed the broader economic point.

Dare emphasized that the resilient informal sector is what keeps the Nigerian economy afloat. Drawing from personal experience, he shared that his own mother sold akara and bananas to fund his education, proving that starting small remains a legitimate path to financial sustainability.