Nigerians and scarcity mentality, by Aderemi Ogunpitan

Many Nigerians grow up surrounded by scarcity, where there is lack, opportunities are rare and basic needs are a daily struggle. This type of upbringing can breed a mindset rooted in the fear of not having enough, of falling back into poverty, of being forgotten, and hungry again.

So when someone rises to power or comes into sudden wealth, the instinct is not to manage or share responsibly but to grab as much as possible, as quickly as possible. It’s a mindset of scarcity. It’s not always because they’re bad people. Sometimes, it’s the trauma of deprivation speaking louder than reason. They never imagined themselves controlling vast resources or leading large institutions, so when they arrive there, it’s like a dream too big to handle. The greed emerges.

The power overwhelms them, and they lose their sense of proportion and probity. They begin to hoard, steal wealth, not just for comfort, but to silence that deep-rooted voice that still whispers, “One day, this could all disappear.”

That’s why the stealing becomes so senseless. Accumulating billions that even generations unborn couldn’t finish spending.

In a society where being respected often means being seen, flashiness becomes a language. The expensive cars, designer clothes, lavish parties, pictures from exotic resorts, and videos on social media of exotic homes, they’re not just indulgences, they’re proof that you made it. Proof that you’re no longer poor.

It’s less about greed and more about validation, about escaping the shame of once having nothing.
And in a society where there’s no accountability and justice is skewed, people become accustomed to getting away with anything.

But the tragedy is that in trying to escape poverty, many become enslaved to it in a different form. They carry its shadow into the halls of power, and it blinds them. The fear of not being enough drives a destructive need to always be seen as more. And, that my people is one of the roots of the underdevelopment of our country. Its the reason why we see our leadership across all areas behave they way the do. But not only our leaders. Seems its everywhere now.