As the sun sets on 2024, it’s time to look back at a year that gave Nigerians enough drama, humor, and moments to keep Twitter NG buzzing every other day. From viral dance challenges to political gbas gbos, 2024 was the year Nigeria proved, yet again, that no matter the situation, our ability to turn events into relatable humor is undefeated. Here’s a recap of the trends, memes, and unforgettable moments that defined Nigeria this year.
1. The “Cashless Wahala” That Shook Everyone
The year started with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cashless policy becoming even “cashless-er.” Nigerians became professional queue-sitters as ATMs remained stingy with cash. Social media was awash with videos of people begging bank managers and jokes like, “Even love no scarce reach cash for this country.” The ordeal gave rise to the phrase “Who you know pass wetin you get”, as cash scarcity turned contacts into currency.
2. Naija Politics: A Real-Life Big Brother Show
Politics in Nigeria is never boring, but 2024 felt like a reality TV show. From campaign drama to post-election courtroom sagas, Nigerians followed the action like it was a Nollywood thriller. The hashtag #MyVoteMustCount trended as youths stayed woke, attending tribunal proceedings via live streams. Of course, the memes were epic—lawyers’ suits became topics of discussion, and one viral clip of a lawyer’s argument birthed the catchphrase, “E shock you abi?”
3. Davido’s Wedding and the “Amapiano National Anthem”
The entertainment industry brought its fair share of buzz. Davido’s grand wedding became the social media event of the year. Videos of his asoebi guests went viral, especially the one showing a young man calculating the cost of attending and concluding, “Na love sef, no be friendship.”
On the music front, Amapiano continued its reign. Songs like “Jaiye Waka” became the unofficial soundtrack of weddings, birthdays, and traffic jams. Nigerians even joked that if your DJ no sabi play Amapiano, abeg commot am!
4. Floods, Traffic, and “God Abeg”
Rainy season arrived with its usual wahala. Lagosians spent hours stuck in traffic, making TikToks to kill boredom. One trending clip showed a woman eating jollof rice in her car while joking, “We dey do owambe inside traffic now.”
Flooding, sadly, remained a recurring challenge. From Abuja to Port Harcourt, photos of submerged cars made the rounds, sparking debates about urban planning and heartfelt prayers like “God, no allow my compound turn swimming pool o!”
5. “I Don’t Support Violence, But…”
2024 served its fair share of gbas gbos moments. The most iconic? A video of two market women arguing in pidgin English about the price of tomatoes. One shouted, “Na recession price!” while the other replied, “You no fit use grammar buy market!” It became a national meme for calling out unnecessary drama.
Another memorable gbas gbos came from football fans during AFCON. When Nigeria was knocked out in the quarterfinals, fans humorously advised the players, “Abeg collect your PVC, na politics fit you pass football.”
6. Skit Makers, Influencers, and the TikTok Takeover
Nigerian skit makers kept us laughing through the stress of 2024. Characters like Mama Sabi and Pastor Doings became household names. Meanwhile, TikTok challenges like the #OwambeAmapianoDance had even your “serious uncle” dusting off his dancing shoes.
Let’s not forget Relationship TikTok, where people shared dramatic breakup stories with captions like, “He collected my power bank and ghosted me.” Nigerians turned pain into comedy like only we can.
7. The Food Inflation Wahala
Food prices skyrocketed, and Nigerians, as usual, turned it into content. When a bag of rice crossed ₦55,000, one viral video showed a woman whispering to her pot of soup: “You better last two weeks.” This year, beans and yam officially joined the “If you know, you know” category of luxury food.
But Nigerians are resilient. Recipes for stretching small portions of ingredients trended online, with captions like, “How to feed 5 people with 2 cups of rice.”
8. World Cup Glory and the Eagle-Eyed Meme
The Super Falcons gave Nigerians a moment of global pride at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. While they didn’t win the tournament, their stunning performance against top teams earned admiration worldwide. One photo of an eagle perched on the Nigerian flag during a match became an instant meme, with captions like, “Even nature dey support us.”
9. The Rise of Green Energy Conversations
Amid the humor, Nigerians also embraced serious discussions about renewable energy. With the cost of fuel and diesel on the rise, solar energy and electric vehicles became hot topics. Videos of people charging EVs with solar panels sparked debates, and a viral tweet read, “If the sun no shine, na trekking sure pass.”
10. Love, Loss, and Lagos Vibes
Finally, 2024 reminded us of what binds us together—our humor, our hope, and our hustle. From celebrating love at elaborate weddings to rallying around flood victims, Nigerians showed why we’re called the giant of Africa.
As we move into 2025, one thing is clear: whatever challenges or joys come our way, Nigerians will always find a way to laugh, adapt, and thrive. And if all else fails, there’s always #NaijaTwitter to make sense of it all.
Here’s to another year of unforgettable moments—Nigeria, no dey carry last!
