Nigerian Lives: What Does It Take To Juggle Multiple Jobs?

In Nigeria today, a nine-to-five job is rarely enough. Salaries vanish by mid-month. Bills pile up. Fuel is expensive. Food is a luxury. The economy is dragging everyone by the throat. So, people hustle after hours, on weekends, during lunch breaks. How are people surviving?

We asked seven Nigerians about the side gigs they’ve picked up just to keep going.

Favour, Brand Designer, and UGC Creator

I work 9–5 as a brand designer at a creative agency in Lagos. My salary is ₦180k, and after I put some money away, black tax, and buy data, I’m already broke. That’s why I started making UGC (user-generated content) for skincare brands on Instagram and TikTok. It started small, just using my face, my bathroom light, but I’ve gotten a few international gigs, and they pay in dollars.

Then there’s the third hustle: I run a WhatsApp dropshipping page where I sell Bluetooth speakers and perfumes. People think it’s vibes, but that business feeds me more than my 9–5 does.

My routine is madness. I wake by 5 am to record videos before preparing for work, and during office hours, I’m designing logos while answering dropshipping customers who’ll say, “Let me ask my boyfriend,” then disappear. My weekends are fully booked with edits, follow-ups, and deliveries. I haven’t rested properly since last year.

Damilola, 24 QA Tester, and Crypto Mentor

I got a remote QA tester role last year that pays ₦300k a month. Sounds okay, right? But that money finishes before the 15th. So I started teaching crypto trading on Telegram. ₦20k per student. I hold weekly classes, break down candlesticks and RSI, all those things.

My uncle also gave me a Keke I now rent out. The rider gives me ₦8,000 daily. That’s ₦240k a month. No stress, just small monitoring.

The work that goes into juggling everything is mad. I test software in the morning, explain crypto terms at night, and chase my Keke guy for my daily cut in between. Sometimes I want to disappear, but this system won’t allow you to breathe unless you overwork.

Kelvin, Motion Designer, Twitter Burner Admin, and Party Plug

As a motion designer, my jobs are project-based. Some months, I earn ₦250k. Other months? Crickets. So I built a burner Twitter account, posting Lagos drama and memes. It grew fast. Now vendors pay me to advertise lingerie, beer, and even sex toys. It’s insane because that account makes me do more than design work sometimes.

On weekends, I plug people into parties. I sell tables, arrange guest lists, and coordinate the guests. I’m not even a party guy. I just know how to move people and make money from it.

It’s chaotic. Some days, I’m designing fintech animations by 10 am, running ad placements by 3 pm, then calling club managers at 1 am. But what’s the option? Be broke? Not me.

Nonso, Logistics Dispatcher, Freelance Writer, and MC

After I lost my office job in 2022, I started working with my cousin’s dispatch business. I got a bike on hire purchase. That was my first hustle. At night, I write fintech blog posts for clients on Upwork. I’m self-taught through YouTube, and midnight Google searches saved me.

My third gig? I MC events on weekends. I’m naturally funny and can freestyle for hours. The jobs keep coming for weddings, birthdays, and even baby showers.

I barely sleep. One second I’m chasing riders for delivery updates, next I’m proofreading fintech content, then I’m in a hall somewhere shouting, “Make some noise!” but at least I’m paying rent, saving small, and planning to leave this country soon because this is not life.

Adaeze, Fashion Intern, Candle Maker, ASMR YouTuber

I’m interning at a fashion house in Lekki, which is unpaid. Zero money. Just “exposure.” So to survive, I make candles. Soy wax, essential oils, cute jars. I sell them on Instagram and Etsy. Nigerians love aesthetics; it’s working.

At night, I record ASMR videos: whispering, nail tapping, rainfall sounds. I have over 13k subscribers on YouTube. The last AdSense payout was $178, which is what paid my rent.

People see the candles and think I’m living the life. But I’m always exhausted. I’m burning both wax and energy just to stay afloat. I can’t go back to being broke, so I just keep going.

Seyi, Radio Producer & Voiceover Artist

I’ve worked in radio for over 10 years. People hear my voice and think I’m balling. They don’t know I earn less than ₦500K monthly. That’s why I started voiceovers. Jingles, ads, documentary narrations. One job can give me ₦50k or more.

But juggling both isn’t easy. Sometimes I leave the voiceover studio at 1 am, then return to the radio station by 6 am. I’m always tired, but what choice do I have? My kids’ school fees aren’t waiting for my “passion,” and I have other dependents.

Tope, Civil Servant & Uber Driver

I work at a ministry from 8 to 4. ₦120k a month after tax. I’ve been there for a couple of years, but since the economy started squeezing everybody, I had to start driving Uber in the evenings.

From 5 pm till 11 pm, I’m on the road. I make about ₦60k a week after fuel and maintenance. That money handles food, emergencies, and my kids’ school bills.

The hardest part is not seeing my children enough. My wife says I’m never home, and she’s right. But what do I do? Last year, when my son was admitted to the hospital, it was Uber money that saved him. Civil service would’ve failed us.