A Lagos government official has clapped back hard at popular social commentator Solomon Buchi after his controversial remarks about Nigeria’s tourism appeal sparked serious backlash.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Gboyega Akosile, has come out swinging against social commentator and relationship coach Solomon Buchi, following Buchi’s recent comments in which he advised foreigners against visiting Nigeria.
In what can only be described as a no-holds-barred response, Akosile did not mince words — questioning the state of mind of content creators who, in his view, sit behind cameras just to spew negativity about the country.
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“What Exactly Are You Smoking?”
Akosile’s reaction was sharp and pointed. In a statement that has since been making the rounds online, the governor’s aide pointedly asked:
> “I wonder what you guys smoke before you set up your cameras to vomit diatribes.”
E be like the Lagos government no find this one funny at all.
The comment was a direct response to Solomon Buchi, who had taken to social media to caution foreigners — particularly diaspora Nigerians and international visitors — about the realities of coming to Nigeria, painting a picture that the government clearly felt was unfair, exaggerated, or outright damaging to the country’s image.
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Who Is Solomon Buchi?
For those who may not be familiar, Solomon Buchi is a widely followed Nigerian social commentator, author, and relationship coach known for his often blunt, thought-provoking takes on life, relationships, and society. He has built a loyal following across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where his opinions — whether you agree with them or not — rarely fail to generate conversation.
This time, however, his words landed him squarely in the crosshairs of the Lagos State Government.
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The Bigger Picture: Nigeria’s Reputation on the World Stage
This back-and-forth is not just social media drama — it touches on a much larger conversation that Nigerians have been having for years: How do we balance honest criticism of our country with the need to project a positive image that attracts investment, tourism, and global respect?
On one hand, many Nigerians — especially those who live through the daily realities of bad roads, insecurity, inconsistent power supply, and economic hardship — feel that voices like Buchi’s are simply telling the truth that the government refuses to acknowledge.
On the other hand, government officials and patriots argue that consistently painting Nigeria in a bad light, especially to an international audience, does more harm than good and discourages the foreign investment and tourism the country desperately needs.
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Nigerians React
As expected, the internet did what the internet does best — scatter everywhere with opinions.
Many Nigerians sided with Solomon Buchi, arguing that the government should focus less on silencing critics and more on fixing the actual problems that make people want to warn foreigners away in the first place.
Others, however, felt that there is a time and place for criticism, and that publicly discouraging tourism and visits to Nigeria on a platform with massive reach does carry real consequences for the country’s economy and image.
A few sharp-tongued Nigerians also pointed out the irony of a government official using such colourful language in an official capacity — but then again, this is Lagos. Did anyone expect anything less?
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The Bottom Line
Whether you stand with Solomon Buchi’s right to speak his truth or with Akosile’s defence of Nigeria’s image, one thing is clear — this conversation is not going away anytime soon.
Nigeria is a country of incredible potential, breathtaking culture, and resilient, brilliant people. But it is also a country with very real, very serious challenges that its citizens live with every single day.
The question is not whether those challenges exist — they clearly do. The real question is: how do we talk about them in a way that is honest, constructive, and ultimately moves us forward?
That, perhaps, is the conversation both the government and its critics should be having — ideally without anyone asking what the other person was smoking.
What do you think? Was Gboyega Akosile right to fire back at Solomon Buchi, or should the Lagos government focus its energy elsewhere? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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