Pastor Paul Adefarasin Blows Hot: Nigeria Is Dead, Let’s Not Deceive Ourselves. Once You Are Counting In Naira, You Are Poor

Pastor Paul Adefarasin, founder of House On The Rock Church, has made headlines again for blunt remarks about Nigeria’s economic and political state. In a recent sermon circulating online, he declared, “Nigeria is dead, let’s not deceive ourselves. Once you are counting in naira, you are poor.” The statement captures the frustration many Nigerians feel over inflation, currency devaluation, and the cost of living.

Adefarasin’s comment comes against the backdrop of a naira that has lost significant value over the last decade. When incomes, savings, and prices are all denominated in naira, purchasing power has eroded sharply due to inflation and exchange rate volatility. His point is economic, not spiritual: holding wealth only in naira means exposure to depreciation that makes it harder to afford basic goods, travel, or invest abroad.

This is not the first time Adefarasin has criticized Nigeria’s structure. In 2021, he described the country as “a scam” and argued that the problem was not Nigerians but the constitution and the way the country was formed. He said the document was put together by “few soldiers and their surrogates” and called for a new constitution that truly reflects “we the people.” He also noted that Nigerians often excel abroad in science and arts, suggesting the environment at home limits potential.

In other sermons, he has urged Nigerians to focus on competence over ethnicity and religion when choosing leaders. Ahead of the 2023 elections, he listed criteria for the next president: vision, track record in development, brilliance, and the ability to unite people across gender and tribe. He has also criticized the accuracy of Nigeria’s census and election data, calling INEC “a fraud” and saying population figures don’t add up logically.

The “naira equals poverty” line resonates because it reflects a lived reality for many. With inflation above 20% in recent years and the naira trading above N1,600 to the dollar at points in 2025-2026, middle-class households find salaries stretched thin. Even salary increases are quickly wiped out by rising food, transport, and energy costs…See More