Nigerian investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, has alleged that the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), orchestrated a trip for select X influencers to Ghana, to make false comparisons and prepare the minds of Nigerians for a tax hike.
David Hundeyin made the allegation in a post on X, as he reacted to a viral post made by one of the influencers who took part in the trip.
The microblogging platform X has been flooded with videos and images by some popular X influencers for a week, sharing videos of their trip, reportedly powered by Chisco Group NG, one of Africa’s leading transport companies.
While in Ghana, some of the influencers, in what appeared to be a casual move, began drawing comparisons between the prices of products in Ghana and those in Nigeria.
Ruth, one of the influencers, compared the price of a litre of petrol in Ghana to that of Nigeria, indicating that the latter was more expensive.
“Fuel in Ghana is 14.3 cedis per liter = 2,000 naira. How are people coping?” she wrote.
Her post immediately sparked reactions from Nigerians, with some criticizing it as an insensitive post, believing it to be a sponsored post, while others took it as proof that the Nigerian economy is in better shape since goods appear cheaper compared to Ghana.
David Hundeyin, an outspoken journalist, responding to the viral tweet by Ruth, with a screenshot of a news article published on Punch NG website, claimed that the IMF had told a certain individual in the presidential villa, who he referred to as “Puppet,” to raise Nigeria’s Value Added Tax from 7.5% to 10%.
“Let me just tell you people ahead of time what this gig is about. The oyibo puppet master in Washington, DC, last month told his puppet in Aso Rock to raise Nigeria's Value Added Tax from 7.5% to 10%.,” David asserted.
He also alleged that the trip to Ghana, which involved several X influencers, was sponsored by the IMF and the Federal Government, with the aim of pushing influencers to make false price comparisons between Ghana and Nigeria, to prepare Nigerians for an upcoming tax hike.
“Ghana's VAT is 15%. So, the puppet is sending influencers to make false comparisons with Ghanaian prices (without comparing incomes, where Ghana's per capita income is nearly 3x that of Nigeria), to prepare your mind for a tax hike.
That's what Ruth and her fellow abominable, stupid fucks are doing in Ghana. It's an IMF gig, but they're too stupid to know how badly they have undercharged.” He claimed.
However, neither the Influencers nor Chisco Group NG has, as of now, disclosed the purpose behind the sponsored trip to Ghana.
See some commets below
@nnabest4uau, wrote-
"Invariably, Nigeria isn't an independent state if her government takes directives on issues that would affect the citizens from a foreign authority. Even if it is on advisory level, before decisions are made from the foreign perspective, it needs to be thoroughly put into scrutiny to evaluate the impact it will have on her citizens back home."
@TheRealGulu
I was wondering why a group of young Nigerians took a trip to Ghana, and all they were doing for days is comparing prices of goods and services up and down. It doesn't add up.
Even if David's post is Aganda, why is it that all of them seem to be doing the same thing? If it's a genuine holiday, I expect to see more pictures of them chilling and just enjoying life.
All they seem interested in is comparing prices.
@TVNDEY
Those ones are just f00ls .Comparing Nigeria’s VAT with Ghana’s without mentioning income levels is pure stup!dity . Ghana’s minimum wage and per capita income are higher which gives their citizens chances to absorb higher VAT far better than Nigerians.Forcing a hike in Nigeria without first fixing income gap is simply punishing the poor citizens to please IMF conditions,and that’s one of their exploitation dressed as policy. The underpaid fufu geng can never be wise
@evergenius_eg
The IMF, World Bank, WHO, and UN pose significant challenges to Africa; their interests do not align with ours. Nigeria must break away from this influence, and I am confident that the rest of Africa will follow suit.
@OHPRIVO, - "Cheap labour"
@hassan__magaji, "How can u openly call a whole president puppet? Can’t you accord him some respect. Pathetic"
See the tweets below
Fuel in Ghana is 14.3 cedis per liter = 2,000 naira. 😳
— RUTH 🇨🇦 (@it_Rutie) August 24, 2025
How are people coping ??😩 pic.twitter.com/u613OOlj84
Let me just tell you people ahead of time what this gig is about. The oyibo puppet master in Washington DC last month told his puppet in Aso Rock to raise Nigeria's Value Added Tax from 7.5% to 10%.
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) August 25, 2025
Ghana's VAT is 15%. So the puppet is sending influencers to make false… https://t.co/azb3NpauSz pic.twitter.com/RFy0HrSQM9
DO
