Popular social media commentator, Daniel Regha, has stirred debate online after calling out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a “misuse of public funds.” His criticism comes in the wake of the president’s generous reward to Nigeria’s Super Falcons for winning the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
On Monday, President Tinubu announced that each of the 24 players would receive $100,000 and a three-bedroom flat, while the team’s technical crew would take home $500,000 in recognition of their victory — a move that has drawn both praise and backlash.
However, Regha didn’t hold back his concerns. Taking to his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, he questioned the logic behind the extravagant rewards in a country battling economic hardship.
“Super Falcons did a good job representing Nigeria,” Regha wrote, “but why is Tinubu’s administration gifting each player $100k and a house? Where is that money coming from — taxpayers or borrowed funds?”
He further argued that the team already stands to receive 30% of the tournament prize money, and in a nation where civil servants are grappling with delayed wages, inflation, and growing poverty, such largesse seems tone-deaf.
“For a country that’s crippling with poverty, how does this even sit well with anyone? Sorry, but this is a misuse of public funds,” Regha added.
While many Nigerians have celebrated the Super Falcons for flying the country’s flag high, Regha’s comments have sparked conversations about government spending priorities — especially at a time when many citizens are struggling with the rising cost of living, fuel subsidy removal, and a depreciating naira.
The backlash brings into sharp focus the ongoing tension between rewarding excellence and fiscal responsibility, especially in a fragile economy where public trust is wearing thin.
