Nigerians have taken to social media to express mixed reactions after President Bola Tinubu announced a $100,000 reward for each member of the D’Tigress basketball team following their victory at the 2025 Women’s Afrobasket Championship. The team defeated Mali 78-64 in the final held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, securing Nigeria’s fifth consecutive title.
During a reception at the Presidential Villa on Monday, August 4, 2025, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing Tinubu, revealed the rewards. Each player will receive $100,000, while members of the technical crew will get $50,000. The President also pledged apartments in Abuja and national honors for the team in recognition of their historic achievement.
The announcement, however, sparked debate online. Some Nigerians applauded the gesture, while others questioned the government’s financial decisions. A Facebook user, Prisca Thomas, remarked, “So this kind of money exists in this country? Wow.” Another commenter, Etimbuk Benson, joked, “He’ll borrow money just to share dollars… great economic policy.”
Further reactions included skepticism about the source of the funds, with one user stating, “It’s clear we’re sharing borrowed money,” while another simply noted, “National cake must go round.”
As celebrations continue over D’Tigress’ success, the discourse highlights broader concerns about Nigeria’s economic priorities and resource distribution.
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