Popular Nigerian travel blogger and YouTuber, Steve Ndukwu, has sparked a heated online debate after expressing dismay at the sight of a Tesla Cybertruck parked in a remote village in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Ndukwu, who has gained recognition for documenting his journeys across countries, said he was shocked to find such an advanced electric vehicle in a community that still grapples with poor infrastructure and unreliable electricity supply.
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) page, @SteveNdukwu, he wrote:
“Nigerians will import luxury before infrastructure. No stable electricity, no charging stations, terrible roads, but somehow a Cybertruck is chilling at a backyard in someone’s village in Ibadan. Priorities on premium madness 🤣.”
Mixed Reactions Online
His post quickly went viral, drawing hundreds of responses from Nigerians who either agreed with his criticism or defended the vehicle’s owner.
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@compoundinnaira argued: “Maybe the guy has set up his own infrastructure? If someone can afford to bring this into Nigeria, they should be able to afford ₦20-30M for a good power wall and solar setup.”
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@zubidavies linked the issue to Nigeria’s broader economic challenges: “If we don’t quickly jumpstart our economy and industrialise, exchange rate will never come down. We’ll keep importing not just luxury but basic needs as luxury. Meanwhile, the world is phasing out fossil-powered vehicles. Imagine when they stop making them except for advanced markets — we’ll be left behind.”
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@yearnerweb3 raised a question of responsibility: “Is the guy that owns the Cybertruck supposed to provide that infrastructure?”
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@ahsam254 pointed to deeper systemic issues: “This is an individuality problem. People are making money to escape the real problems bad leadership. But is he gonna drive around with his own charger or what?”
A Symbol of Contradictions
The sighting of the Cybertruck has reignited discussions on Nigeria’s infrastructure gap, particularly in the face of rising importation of luxury goods. Critics argue that the obsession with high-end foreign products, despite the absence of supporting infrastructure, highlights a culture of misplaced priorities.
Supporters, however, say that individuals with the means should not be faulted for purchasing luxury items, insisting that it is the government’s responsibility to provide the enabling environment for such technologies to thrive.
For Ndukwu, however, the image of a futuristic electric truck parked in a rustic Nigerian setting remains a powerful symbol of the nation’s paradox: a thirst for modern luxuries amid the absence of basic amenities.
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