“Just Wanted Efo and Eba”: Kiddwaya Sparks Global Debate as Nigerian Food Prices Abroad Hit £40

Reality TV star and entrepreneur Kiddwaya has ignited a lively global conversation after lamenting the soaring cost of Nigerian food abroad, capturing in one frustrated post a reality many Nigerians in the diaspora quietly endure. In a message shared on his verified X account, the former Big Brother Naija housemate expressed disbelief at being charged £40 for a simple Nigerian meal, writing, “Nigerian food is getting ridiculously expensive abroad like how fa?? I just wanted efo and eba why are you telling me £40.” The short but striking complaint immediately resonated with thousands of Nigerians living outside the country, turning a personal moment of sticker shock into a broader discussion about culture, migration, inflation, and identity.

Kiddwaya’s post spread rapidly, attracting reactions from London, Toronto, New York, Berlin, and other cities with large Nigerian communities. Many users echoed his frustration, sharing screenshots of restaurant menus and recounting their own experiences of paying premium prices for foods that feel ordinary back home. Others responded with humor, joking that Nigerian meals abroad now qualify as “luxury dining,” while some took a more serious tone, pointing to the economic realities driving these prices. What might have passed as a casual celebrity rant instead opened a window into how deeply food is tied to belonging, memory, and home for Nigerians living far from the country.

Efo and eba, the meal at the center of the debate, is as basic as it gets in many Nigerian households. Efo, a rich vegetable soup often made with spinach or ugwu, palm oil, assorted meats, and spices, paired with eba, a swallow made from garri, is everyday comfort food for millions. In Nigeria, the meal is affordable and accessible, served in homes, buka joints, and local restaurants across the country. Abroad, however, that same plate often comes with a price tag that feels shocking, especially to Nigerians who grew up eating it as a staple rather than a delicacy.

Several Nigerian restaurant owners overseas weighed into the conversation, explaining that the high prices are not simply about profit. Many of the ingredients used in authentic Nigerian cooking are imported, sometimes in small quantities, and often face strict food regulations. Items like palm oil, dried fish, stockfish, ogbono, crayfish, and specific vegetables can be expensive to source legally and consistently. Add the high cost of rent, utilities, staff wages, licensing, and taxes in cities like London, and the economics of running a Nigerian restaurant quickly become complicated. For many business owners, charging £35 or £40 for a meal is not greed but survival.

Still, for consumers, especially students and young professionals abroad, the prices sting. Social media users responding to Kiddwaya’s post spoke about rationing their visits to Nigerian restaurants, reserving them for special occasions, or learning to cook at home to cut costs. Some admitted that the prices make them feel disconnected from their culture, as foods that once brought comfort now feel out of reach. Others pointed out that while Western or Asian meals abroad can also be expensive, there is a particular emotional weight when the food of one’s childhood becomes a luxury.

The conversation also touched on inflation and the ripple effects of Nigeria’s own economic challenges. Rising food prices within Nigeria, currency fluctuations, fuel costs, and insecurity affecting farming communities all contribute to higher export prices for food items. When these goods reach foreign markets, their prices are further inflated by shipping costs and exchange rates. In that sense, Kiddwaya’s £40 efo and eba is not just a diaspora problem but part of a larger global economic story that connects local Nigerian markets to international dining tables.

Kiddwaya, known for his lavish lifestyle and globe-trotting image, became an unlikely voice for a very relatable frustration. Some critics pointed out that a celebrity complaining about food prices might seem out of touch, but many fans defended him, arguing that his status actually amplified an issue that affects ordinary Nigerians abroad. By saying out loud what many people joke about privately, he helped normalize the conversation and brought visibility to a shared experience. The fact that someone wealthy enough to afford the meal still questioned the price only underscored how extreme it felt.

Beyond economics, the viral post highlighted how Nigerian food has gained global recognition in recent years. With the rise of Afrobeats, Nollywood, and African fashion, Nigerian culture has become more visible and more valued internationally. Restaurants now cater not only to Nigerians but also to curious foreigners eager to experience West African cuisine. While this popularity is a source of pride, it also contributes to higher prices, as demand grows and Nigerian food is repositioned from “ethnic comfort food” to “exotic dining experience” in some markets.

As the online debate continued, some users urged Nigerians abroad to support local African stores and cook at home, while others called for more community-driven solutions, such as cooperative buying of ingredients to reduce costs. A few even joked that the solution was simple: come home for Detty December and eat efo and eba to your heart’s content. Underneath the jokes, however, was a shared sense of longing for affordability, familiarity, and home.

In the end, Kiddwaya’s £40 meal became more than just a personal complaint. It turned into a snapshot of the Nigerian diaspora experience, where culture travels across borders but is reshaped by economics and distance. It reminded many that food is never just food; it is memory, identity, and connection. Whether the prices will come down anytime soon remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: a single plate of efo and eba has once again proven its power to spark conversation, laughter, and reflection among Nigerians around the world.