The Discourse and Articulation of Reno’s “Grow Naira, Buy Naija” Campaign

Reno Omokri tweeted:

“The Naira did not crash because of bad governance. The Naira crashed because, for the last forty years, Nigeria has been subsidising the Naira by artificially defending it. In the last year of Buhari’s administration, the bill for subsidising the Naira got to $1.5 billion a month. And that money was largely being borrowed. What this administration did was to end that subsidy and float the Naira, meaning that the market forces of demand and supply will now determine the value of the Naira…

“If Nigerians were using the subsidised dollars to develop Nigeria, maybe it would have made sense for it to continue. But what were we using it for? $20 million a day on MTN and Airtel instead of Glo, which is wholly Nigerian. $1.5 billion per annum to gamble with foreign bookies. £25 million on Scotch whiskey. $75 million on champagne. “I am not for Tinubu as a person, but I support this policy. And not only me. All major Presidential candidates, except Kwankwaso, agreed to float the Naira. The only way out of our present economic hardship is #GrowNairaBuyNaija.”

In many of his comments and campaigns in different social media platforms such as, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter), our analyst states that Omokri intentionally uses language to draw attention to the disparities in power between multinational, citing companies like MTN and Airtel and Nigerian-owned enterprises like Globacom many times as examples. According to him, Glo creates a narrative that presents Nigerian enterprises as protectors of national interests against international exploitation by highlighting Glo’s dedication to the country and characterizing rival telecom companies as exploitative.

He challenges the idea that international companies always offer superior services, which our analyst quite agrees with, by dismantling the perceived hierarchy in the telephone industry. By scrutinizing MTN and Airtel’s business methods, he takes apart the dichotomies that exist between local and foreign enterprises, implying that the differentiation is not simple and that local businesses might succeed where international ones fail.

His concerns over national identity and economic independence are evident in the discourse, which frames support for Nigerian companies as a way to demonstrate resilience and sovereignty in the face of outside threats. Omokri highlights the value of independence and pushes for a reevaluation of economic priorities by promoting the use of locally produced goods and services which our analyst believe will strengthen the economy

Omokri’s criticism goes beyond the telecom industry to more general economic narratives, casting doubt on presumptions regarding the unavoidability of economic reliance on foreign partners. By showcasing achievements such as the strengthening of the Naira (which still has a lot of issues regarding how long the stability will be) and the expansion of regional industry, he contests prevailing accounts of economic dependence and inactivity.

Our analyst notes that his message encourages people to reconsider their purchasing decisions and acknowledge their actions and inactions in influencing economic outcomes. Omokri gives Nigerians the ability to take charge of their economic destiny and contribute to national progress by enticing them to patronise local companies and shun international alternatives.

In general, Omokri’s discussion of the “GrowNairaBuyNaija” campaign represents a strategy that aims to dismantle prevailing narratives, question power structures, and forward alternative viewpoints on national identity and economic sovereignty by using a narrative language that highlights the significance of assisting Nigerian companies in order to demonstrate their independence and strength in the face of pressures from the world economy.

Kelechi Dasilva Ibekwe, a public policy specialist, provides additional information for this piece.