Abdulkadir Husaini
One of the biggest complaints among young Nigerians chasing remote jobs today is not unemployment.
It is silence.
The moment some people land a remote job paying in dollars, pounds or euros, they suddenly disappear. The same person who used to ask questions in WhatsApp groups becomes unavailable. The same person who begged others for guidance suddenly starts acting like their success is a state secret.
A popular social media post recently captured this frustration with a blunt statement: “Nigerian remote workers hide updates pass Yahoo boys.” The comment quickly sparked debate online, with many agreeing that remote job gatekeeping has become a growing problem.
While the statement may sound harsh, it raises an important question.
Why do some remote workers become so secretive after getting hired?
Fear of competition
The most common reason is fear.
Many remote workers believe that if they reveal where they got hired, more Nigerians will apply and increase competition.
Instead of helping others find opportunities, they prefer to keep information to themselves.
This mindset is understandable in a tough economy, but it also creates a cycle where everyone wants help until they succeed, then suddenly stops helping others.
The scarcity mentality problem
Nigeria’s economic challenges have created a scarcity mentality.
Many people believe opportunities are limited and must be protected at all costs.
Instead of seeing jobs as something that can be created or multiplied, they view them as rare resources that must be hidden from others.
This mentality may protect an individual in the short term, but it slows collective progress.
Some workers are afraid of losing their jobs
Not every case is selfishness.
Some remote workers intentionally stay quiet because they fear attracting attention from employers.
Remote work has increasingly come under scrutiny worldwide as employers invest more in monitoring productivity and compliance. Reports have shown growing concerns among companies about accountability, employee monitoring and remote work performance.
As a result, some workers avoid public discussions about their employers or work arrangements.
Social media has turned success into a performance
Ironically, many people love showing the benefits of remote work but refuse to explain how they achieved it.
They post vacation photos.
They post screenshots of earnings.
They post expensive gadgets.
But when someone asks how they got the opportunity, the answer is often vague.
“Just keep applying.”
“Pray harder.”
“Manifest it.”
The process becomes hidden while the results are displayed.
The internet was built on sharing
Most people who secure remote jobs did not discover the path alone.
Someone created a YouTube tutorial.
Someone shared a LinkedIn strategy.
Someone posted a free course.
Someone explained how to write a CV.
Someone opened a door.
The remote work ecosystem exists because people shared information.
If everyone had decided to keep opportunities secret, many of today’s remote workers would never have found their first international client or employer.
The real winners share knowledge
The most successful professionals rarely fear competition.
They understand that opportunities continue to exist for people who have skills and provide value.
Many global communities thrive because experienced professionals actively mentor newcomers.
Knowledge sharing strengthens industries.
Gatekeeping weakens them.
Final thought
Not every remote worker owes the public a detailed explanation of their career journey.
However, there is a difference between protecting personal privacy and deliberately hiding information that could help others build a better future.
The next generation of Nigerian remote workers will not be remembered for how much they earned.
They will be remembered for whether they helped others climb the same ladder after reaching the top themselves.
Precious Olamide
Aisha Katagum
