According to a report by Nigerian Tribune on Saturday, May 9, 2026, a Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, has stated that Nigeria is currently safer from phone snatching compared to some foreign countries, including the United Kingdom.
His comments came amid growing concerns from Nigerians over worsening insecurity and the rising cost of living across the country.
Fasua made the statement while speaking during a members-only Coffee Hangout organised by the Kay Hikers Club in Abuja.
The gathering featured discussions on the country’s economic situation, security challenges, and the increasing financial pressure faced by citizens.
During the session, one of the female participants raised concerns about the high cost of transportation services operated by ride-hailing companies.
She also complained about the growing cases of phone theft in different parts of the country, stressing that many Nigerians were struggling to meet their daily needs due to economic hardship.
The participant explained that the situation had become difficult for ordinary citizens, especially those who depend on mobile phones for communication and business activities.
She noted that insecurity and the increasing cost of essential services were making life more challenging for many families.
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In his response, Fasua maintained that incidents of phone theft were not unique to Nigeria, he said similar crimes also occur in countries regarded as more developed, including the United Kingdom.
According to him, such criminal activities should not be seen as a problem limited to Nigeria alone.
Fasua further referred to experiences shared by a visitor from Cameroon to support his argument.
He said the woman, identified as Victorine and described as a vlogger, had spoken about security concerns in her country and the difficulty of openly using mobile phones in public places there.
“In the streets of London, go to UK, you see phone smashing. One woman was here from Cameroon. Her name is Victorine. She’s a vlogger. She was here in Nigeria. And she tells you that in Cameroon you can’t hold your phone like this,” he said….Read_More…