Popular Nigerian chef, Bawalicious, has sparked nationwide conversations after sharing a chilling experience with his Chinese client that exposed Nigeria’s deep-rooted fake product culture and obsession with appearances.
According to the chef, the Chinese client refused to buy new clothes or fix his iPhone 15 in Nigeria, saying he would only do so back in China. When Bawalicious jokingly called him stingy, the client laughed and asked the price of his ₦35,000 Louis Vuitton shirt—then revealed that the same fake shirt sells for just ₦5,000 in China.
The client went on to show videos exposing how refurbished iPhones are repackaged and sold as brand-new devices in Nigeria. He reportedly told the chef that many Nigerians travel to China to purchase counterfeit items—designer clothes, phones, cosmetics, and even drugs—and resell them locally as genuine products.
Reflecting on the encounter, Chef Bawalicious said it made him realize how fake goods are silently destroying lives and reputations in the country. He lamented that the trend has gone beyond luxury brands, now affecting daily essentials and leading to serious health problems such as kidney failure.
“The issue isn’t the price—it’s selling fake as original, and people are paying the price with their health,” he wrote.
The post has since gone viral, drawing mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians admitting that “fake life” and greed have become alarming societal issues.
