Most Unforgettable Moments That Had Us Talking In 2024 - They say that if you expect the unexpected, nothing will ever take you by surprise; obviously, they didn't have Nigeria in mind when they were saying all this because no matter your expectations, the events happening in the country will not only surprise you, the viewer but surprise the people causing them.
If you thought you’d seen it all, think again. Here’s our rundown of the Most Unforgettable Moments That Had Us Talking in 2024, where nothing was off-limits:
AFCON Finale: 2nd Lead Syndrome
After months of social media hype and relentless debates (especially with Ghanaians and South Africans) about how Nigeria would reclaim glory in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after giving a commendable performance overall, Nigeria ultimately finished as the runner-up to the host nation, Ivory Coast, on the 11th of February.
This honestly should have given us foresight on how the year was going to play out, in all honesty. The loss was completely unexpected and gave the nation a taste of what the 2nd lead in Korean dramas feels when they don't end up with the love interest.
And to make matters worse, our hype and pride on social media came back to bite us. but we don't go down without a fight. For the next couple of days following the finale, Nigerians took to Twitter to defend their honor and drag Ghanaians and South Africans through the mud as they didn't reach the finals or semi-finals in Ghana's case.
Fuel Price Fiasco
Remember when the cost of doing literally anything just increased? We came into the year with fuel ranging around ₦650-₦700 per litre, and later in the year, around October, the fuel price reached astronomical levels of over ₦1000 per litre. And for some reason, this became the excuse for why the akara woman in your street started selling ₦20 akara for ₦100.
Nigerians were turned into ambulance sirens each time they entered filling stations or marketplaces because the prices of things had us all going, “Wow, wow, wow.”
But amid all this, Nigerians coped with increasing living expenses, as they do with any other hardship, by catching a cruise over the situation with jokes and fun.
We pray the jokes never finish so we don't have to think about our problems.
National Anthem Change
In the middle of the year, when all was going smoothly and citizens were going about their normal lives, President Bola Tinubu dropped a national single, rebranding the nation anthem from “Arise, O Compatriots” to "Nigeria, We Hail Thee” on May 29.
We needed a change of song that would match the year's vibe. This change brought about several reactions, debates, and memes, with everyone laying their 2 cents on the matter.
Some criticized the change as an unnecessary decision that lacked proper consultation with the public. Others view it as “misplaced priorities” and as a tactic by the government to distract attention from the country's real problems, such as economic instability, unemployment, and insecurity.
Minimum Wage
After five long years of managing ₦30,000 wage, the tug-of-war between the Nigerian Labour Congress and the government finally ended in a win (or at least a change) for workers. As of July 2024, the minimum wage in Nigeria is ₦70,000 per month, about $45.29 (USD). A significant increase from the latter, but its effectiveness in the present economy... well, that’s a story for another day.
And as always, the people had a lot to say. In an interview with The Conversation, economics professor Stephen Onyeiwu traced back to 1981, when the minimum wage was ₦125 (equivalent to about $204 at the time). He highlighted that today's workers are getting scraps in comparison and emphasized that a vast majority of the population, approximately 92.3%, are not covered by minimum wage laws.
And that’s not all—because, of course, it never is. Many Nigerians have quickly pointed out that ₦70,000 barely covers a bag of rice, let alone an actual meal plan. Meanwhile, others have raised the small issue of fuel prices because what’s the point of earning more if you can’t even afford the ride to work? At this rate, the new minimum wage might just be a fancy way of saying “slightly upgraded suffering.”
End Bad Governance Protest
Another one of the most unforgettable moments that had us talking in 2024 was the 'End Bad Governance Prostest'. In August of 2024, Nigerians decided that they’d had enough of the unique leadership of the administration and began a 10-day #EndBadGovernance protest from 1 August to 10 August.
The protest was a cumulative response to all the hardships being faced in the country: the removal of the fuel subsidy, which made people calculate distances in their heads before heading out, and the naira falling faster than the national grid, which caused even the price of eggs to skyrocket.
The cost of living was getting too much for the living; enough was enough, and something needed to be done. Naturally, the government’s response instead of listening was to send out armed forces to scatter everything (because listening to the people's plights is so last season, and they're above that).
But the protest clarified one thing: Nigerians are done with the same old story. It's high time for leaders to step up because the people are no longer content with the status quo.
Arrest of minors
As previously stated, events in this country have a way of surprising no one, but even so, this event left everyone flabbergasted. In response to the "End Bad Governance" protest in August, authorities arrested over 70 individuals, including 30 minors aged 14 to 17.
Evidently, these young citizens are clearly a threat to national security and were charged with treason—which, by the way, carries the death penalty. Nothing says "we value our youth," like threatening them with execution for exercising their right to protest, right?
The situation reached peak absurdity when these minors appeared in court after three months of detention, looking malnourished and exhausted; obviously, it's not like they were getting 3 square meals in those detention centers.
Some even collapsed during the proceedings, bringing tears to the judge's eyes, such sympathy. This is understandable, given that their bail was set at a mere 10 million naira each. A small price to pay for the crime of wanting a better future, right?
Public outrage eventually prompted the President to order the release of the detained minors and initiate an investigation into the actions of law enforcement officials involved; the situation must have been shocking to him, like the rest of us, it seems.
It's heartwarming to see such swift action—only three months late and after international condemnation. Truly, it is a masterclass in responsive governance.
This entire episode serves as a stark reminder of the challenges within Nigeria's criminal justice system. But hey, at least we can all sleep better knowing that our government is hyper-vigilant against the terrors of teenage protesters.
Return of Trump
So, Trump bagged the presidency again in 2024; are we surprised? And for some reason, a chunk of Nigerian celebrities suddenly morphed into CNN analysts. The energy? Unmatched. The hypocrisy? Blinding. One minute, they’re barely acknowledging the mess that is our own elections; the next, they’re dissecting U.S. politics like their rent depends on it.
Davido, for example, proudly announced he had voted in the U.S. election, and Nigerians wasted no time reminding him that he was very MIA when it was time to vote in Nigeria. Meanwhile, social media erupted with Nigerians pointing out the irony—how a lot of our celebrities and ‘faves’ conveniently “forget” to use their voices when it comes to local elections but are suddenly passionate when it’s the U.S. at stake.
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Of course, regular Nigerians weren’t left out. The reactions were a mix of concern, indifference, and those lovely social media banters that keep you on your screens. Some worried about how Trump’s presidency might affect U.S.-Nigeria relations—immigration policies, economic ties, and, of course, the JAPA plans of many. However, this proves that corruption isn’t just rooted in Nigeria—some countries have mastered the art of doing it with better PR.
Miss Universe
Chidimma Adetshina’s pageant journey was a rollercoaster—one of those rides where you don’t know whether to scream, laugh, or ask for a refund. She started competing for Miss South Africa, but before adjusting her crown, the government swooped and asked, “Wait, are you even South African?”.
Apparently, someone thought this was the perfect time to dig into her citizenship, with claims that her mother might have gotten it through alternative methods. What followed was a wave of outrage, online dragging, and enough xenophobic comments to last a lifetime. The heat got so intense that Chidimma had no choice but to withdraw from the competition. Not because she wasn’t queen-material but because the whole thing was turning into a messy reality show.
But like the baddie, she is, instead of sulking, she did what any true Nigerian would do—she switched lanes. And Nigeria welcomes her with open arms. Fast forward, and she enters Miss Universe Nigeria, wins it, and secures her ticket to the global stage. Talk about turning setbacks into setups, we stan a determined queen.
And she didn’t just show up; she made history. At Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico City, she finished as the first runner-up—putting Nigeria in the limelight. Meanwhile, South Africa was nowhere in sight.
Bob Brisky Prison Controversy
Saving the best for last, we bring you the one and only Mummy of Lagos, one-time Kirikiri Landlady, and all her drama. To recap, earlier in the year, Nigeria's favorite drama queen, depending on the day, found herself trading luxury wigs for prison overalls after the EFCC decided her making it rain at a party was a national emergency.
Of course, nothing happens in this country without people bringing their opinions to the table. Some argued that bigger criminals walk free while Bob got the full weight of the law for flexing at a party.
But the real tea is the number of scandals and rumors that followed, such as allegations of certain celebrities bribing officials to give Bob VIP treatment in prison and drop the charges, with VeryDarkMan having the receipts, or at least claiming to. All of these have been denied by the parties involved, but let’s be honest—this is Nigeria; anything can happen.
Then came Bobrisky’s grand exit. Serving time may have given Bob a new perspective on life. She described her stay as “awesome” but “not really okay” and even dropped some words of wisdom for her audience: "Avoid trouble if you can." Oh, the irony.
Conclusion
That’s all, folks! - The Most Unforgettable Moments That Had Us Talking in 2024
One thing is certain, though—The drama supply is endless, and we’re only just getting started. If it’s not politicians moving funny, it’s celebrities catching stray bullets or fuel prices affecting the price of Akara. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the country says, “Hold my beer.”
But anyway, that's what we’re here for. This is the spot you need to be to get all the tea. So, don’t slack. Subscribe, turn on your notifications, and stay plugged in.
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Most Unforgettable Moments That Had Us Talking In 2024
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