A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, serving in Lagos, Ushie Uguamaye, has claimed that she is facing threats after her viral TikTok video criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over inflation and economic hardship.
In her post on Saturday, Uguamaye described Nigeria’s economic downturn as unbearable, calling Tinubu a “terrible leader” and questioning the government’s commitment to easing citizens’ struggles. She also labeled Lagos a “smelling state,” citing poor living conditions.
Shortly after her video gained traction, Uguamaye alleged that NYSC officials pressured her to delete the content. Taking to Instagram, on Sunday she voiced concerns over her safety.
“Dear Nigerians, less than 24 hours after my video, I’m already being threatened by the NYSC board. They have my address. If I go missing, you know who to hold accountable,” she said in the video.
Uguamaye insisted she had done nothing wrong. “Why can’t I speak up about something that affects me directly? I’ve been saving for my dream car, but the price keeps skyrocketing. I went to the mall to buy a crate of eggs, and it cost ₦6,500. The moment I got home, I was told our electricity bill had doubled. I’m spending all my money just to survive, and it’s exhausting. This is my first time living alone as an adult, and I feel overwhelmed. Does being a corps member mean I lose my right to complain?”
She claimed officials were tracking her and demanded accountability. “They keep calling me. Now they’re texting my personal details to show they know me. Why are they treating me like a criminal?”
Despite alleged intimidation, Uguamaye refused to back down. “Deleting my content won’t help. If they punish me, no one will know.”
The NYSC has yet to respond to the allegations as of the time of filing the report.
