Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has urged Nigerians to avoid unnecessary spending on luxury phones such as the iPhone 17, noting that even Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, uses a regular Android device.
Omokri made the remark in a post shared on his X page on Thursday, where he advised Nigerians to prioritise financial discipline over social status.
“Zoom in on the phone Alhaji Aliko Dangote is using, and you will notice that it is not an expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max or any fancy device. It is a regular Android phone, and not even a new one at that. Yet, according to Forbes Magazine, this is the wealthiest person in Africa, the 86th richest human on Earth, and the Black person with the highest net worth on this planet,” Omokri wrote.
“In the few days I spent with him in Lagos, Nigeria, last week, this was the only phone I saw Alhaji Dangote use. His genuine simplicity and contentment are such attractive virtues. It is no wonder that God has blessed him impactfully.”
Omokri stressed that a phone should be seen as a tool for communication, not a status symbol.
“A phone is not a financial investment. It is a utilitarian device whose primary purpose is to help you communicate with others beyond your physical presence. Therefore, conversations you have on a phone are more important than the brand and price of your phone,” he added.
He cautioned Nigerians to avoid falling into the trap of buying expensive phones to appear wealthy.
“As such, resist the urge to buy an iPhone 17, whether real or a clever fake from China, or any other expensive phone brand, as a status symbol. iPhones are an excellent choice of phone. I recommend them. Do buy one if you need it. But let your consumption be driven by need, not by vanity,” he said.
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Omokri further advised that money should be channelled into productive investments instead of fleeting social trends.
“If your old phone is still working, use it and invest your extra money. Apple, the maker of iPhones, has already planned the obsolescence of the iPhone 17. As you read this, the iPhone 18 is already in production. Planned obsolescence is a business strategy of every luxury brand!”
He warned against overspending to impress others, encouraging Nigerians to emulate Dangote’s modesty.
“Refuse to go broke in the desire for social status. Even if you are already rich, invest your money, like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and make more to help the less privileged among humanity. Spending to attain social ranking is a ruse because the minute you buy that latest item, the producers are already set to release a later model that will make yours outdated,” Omokri said.
Concluding, he urged Nigerians to focus on investments rather than mere saving.
“And while saving is a good habit, frugality can never make you rich. Banks use your savings to make between 18% and 24% return on investment. Then they give you 2% savings interest, and you celebrate. How much is inflation? 21%. You are getting 19% below the inflation rate. Your money is reducing. That is why you should invest and make a return on investment higher than the inflation rate,” he said.