Iraq is trending because Pooja posed a life changing dilemma, asking if you had the chance to earn ₦800k in Nigeria and $5k in Iraq as a footballer, where would you go?
Folks picked Iraq without hesitation. Patriotic Nigerians found it absurd. Because Nigeria is safer than Iraq.
So, the argument for which country is safer began.
Folks in for Iraq argued that, the difference in terrorism in both countries is almost the same.
So $5k which is ₦7.7M/wk/m, is worth the sacrifice. At most, they’d play for a bit and return to Nigeria.
Patriotic tweeps argued that, they won’t have the freedom in Iraq regardless of how much they earned, because of terrorism.
Actually! According to Global Index Ranking, Iraq is more peaceful than Nigeria. Iraq ranks 147, Nigeria 148.
According to Numbeo Crime Index; Iraq has lesser crime rate compared to Nigeria: 42.5 and 71.5 respectively.
Yet, both countries are flagged as security risks by US and UK.
Contextually, Iraq is safer than Nigeria. Iraq is terrorized by ISIS, Al-queda, Hezbollah and Gangs, all since the US invasion in 2003.
Nigeria is terrorized by Boko Haram, Bandits, ISWAP, Herdsmen, Kidnappers and Lakurawa.
Development wise, Nigeria’s is stunted by corruption. Iraq’s is stunted by wars.
The cost of living in Iraq is about 25% higher than Nigeria’s. Minimum wage in Nigeria is ₦70k on paper. In Iraq is it ₦526k on paper.
Both countries lack 24/7 electricity. Infact, according to papers Nigeria has better electricity than Iraq. Albeit, the life expectancy in Iraq is somehow 71. Nigeria is 56.
Concerning the bombing. Someone said, he average Nigerian fraud boy won’t have issues.
Per public reports, total fatalities from terrorism in Iraq in 2024 is 501+. In Nigeria for same year it was 6,549+