Nigerian singer Inetimi Alfred Odom, known as Timaya, has expressed deep concern over the current economic hardships affecting people worldwide, particularly highlighting the severity of the situation in Nigeria.
In a recent interview with Channels Television, Timaya shared his feelings about the struggles many face. He emphasised that the rising costs of living have impacted his own expenses, including staff salaries and family upkeep.
He stated, “Things are really hard. I feel it for people because if people are not happy, I can’t be happy, too. I pay bills. I help a lot of people. So I understand what people are going through. I’m also feeling it [the hardship].
“My staff’s salaries and upkeep for family members have drastically increased because of the high cost of living.
“You don’t expect things to be normal. Even politicians are crying, too, not to talk of me. The only way you can meet up with the current economic demands is if you’re earning in dollars. If you’re earning forex and you convert it to naira, that’s how you can ball.
“Even in America right now, things are still hard there because they’re earning in dollars and spending in dollars. It’s hard everywhere. The world is hard right now, but Nigeria is harder.”
The singer also discussed the impact of the economic crisis on the entertainment industry, revealing that the cost of producing and promoting music has skyrocketed
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“Currently, you need a lot of money to promote music. Before, we didn’t even bother about shooting music videos. Even if we were shooting a video, it cost just N1.5 million.
“Now, just to shoot one video: 100 million, 50 million, 60 million. And when you shoot the video, to promote it, you need more millions. That’s why booking fees for artists now are expensive,” Timaya added.
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