Popular TikTok creator Peller has ignited a heated online discussion about Nigeria’s economic struggles after revealing that his friend made a grueling journey from Ikorodu to Lagos Island solely to grab free jollof rice at celebrity chef Hilda Baci‘s record-breaking cook-a-thon.
The revelation, shared in a video posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), painted a stark picture of how desperate some Nigerians have become for a decent meal.
According to Peller, his friend Taiwo’s cross-city trek during Hilda’s famous cooking marathon was a wake-up call about the harsh realities many people are facing.
“That whole Hilda Baci cooking thing really opened my eyes to how hungry Nigerians are,” Peller said in the clip.
“One of my boys actually traveled all the way from Ikorodu to the Island just for the food. I had to tell him straight up – ‘Taiwo, your life has really gone sideways.’ I honestly don’t know how things got this rough for him.”
The story references Hilda Baci’s spectacular attempt to break the Guinness World Record for longest cooking marathon, where her massive jollof rice pot became a magnet for thousands of Lagos residents who flocked to the venue for days.
But Peller’s take on the event has split social media right down the middle.
While some users agreed that economic hardship is pushing people to desperate measures, others fired back, arguing that most attendees came for the excitement and community spirit, not because they were starving.
The pushback was swift and pointed. One Twitter user, @LaughNLearnX, called out what they saw as manufactured drama:
“Peller is just trying to create viral content. Just the transport money from Ikorodu to Island alone would cost more than buying food locally.”
@abusum45 was even more direct: “His friend is probably just there collecting seasoning cubes. He’s not even embarrassed to admit it.”
Others questioned the hunger narrative entirely. @OluwaseunO17224 wrote:
“Look, I’m not saying people aren’t struggling, but if it was really about desperation, that rice wouldn’t have lasted until the next morning.”
@Adeolabioyee completely rejected Peller’s interpretation: “We went there to have a good time! I even bought Amoke Oge jollof before heading over.
This guy needs to stop talking nonsense. I actually left with four containers of jollof rice.”
