Nigerians are ordering pizzas from London and flying them 5000km back to Nigeria on British Airways, picking them up at the airport and taking them home, according to an astonishing claim in Nigeria’s Parliament.
The pizzas are ordered, presumably, by phone or online.
Prominent Nigerian politician Audu Ogbeh told a Senate committee hearing in the country’s capital, Abuja: “They buy in London, they bring it on British Airways in the morning to pick up at the airport. It is a very annoying situation and we have to move a lot faster in cutting down some of these things.”
Ogbeh’s comments were picked up and reported by Britain’s Independent, which said the government minister did not specify which Nigerians were making the pizza orders.
The revelation highlights a trend in Nigeria to import foodstuffs, because imported items are viewed as possessing high status or class.
Social media users responded:
Dear @British_Airways, how come you didn't tell us you run a pizza delivery service to Nigeria? Is there an app for this? https://t.co/k7Bvk8CoeX
— Amara Nwankpa (@Nwankpa_A) March 28, 2019
Another person posted on Twitter: “If those wealthy Nigerians are rich enough to order pizza and have it delivered by BA, I challenge them to be smart enough to think up ideas on how to make pizzas in Nigeria.”
Ogbeh, 71, claims the trend to import fast foods is damaging the country’s economy and turning Nigeria into a nation of importers.
Nigeria’s population is 191 million, giving potential to sell a lot of pizza. The country’s birth-rate is so high, Nigeria is projected to overtake the USA and become the third most populous country in the world shortly before 2050.
Written by Peter Needham
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