The 13th Tai Solarin University of Education Students Union Senate President, Linguistic and currently a Nigerian immigrant based in the United Kingdom, Ifedayo Johnson, has publicly challenged a British nationalist known as @BasedNorthmathr on X (formerly Twitter) to an English Language Skills test and an open comparison of individual economic contributions to the UK. The exchange, which has drawn widespread attention online, stems from what Johnson describes as “insulting narratives about Nigerians and immigrants” that he says have gone unchecked for too long.
“You’re free to set up the modalities,” Johnson stated firmly. “I suggest it be on a Twitter space so everyone can have real-time update. We will start by tendering the highest level of university education we both have. Then straight to the test proper.” His post was in direct response to previous comments by Angantyr questioning the competence and entitlement of Nigerian immigrants in the UK.
In a more personal and nationalistic appeal, Johnson emphasized the stakes of the duel, declaring, “If my contribution is higher than yours and what I take back is lower than yours, you’ll keep mute and never drag Nigerians into any of your agenda again! If I take from this country more than I contribute, I’ll pack my bags and leave within 24 hours.” His proposition drew wide applause across X, with many Nigerian users praising the transparency and confidence he exhibited.
He continued with a formal challenge: “Hello @BasedNorthmathr, I’m openly challenging you to an English Language Skills test. This would entail Writing, Listening, Speaking and Reading tests. If your overall score is higher than mine, I’ll quietly pack my bags and leave this country within 24 hours. But if I score higher than you, you’ll keep your mouth shut and never again question or disrespect the English Language skills of any Nigerian.”
Johnson’s challenge was not merely about pride or language proficiency—it was grounded in data and the lived experience of legal immigrants. In follow-up tweets, he encouraged Nigerian content creators to use TikTok as an avenue to educate the British public on the economic contributions of immigrants. “If you’re a TikToker, I think the contents to push out now are contents to show up how much legal immigrants spend and pay to be in this country,” he said. “Try and make it a duty to share how much fees we pay, how we are taxed, IHS fee, and all of these without any single access to public funds.”
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which Johnson referenced, is currently £624 per adult per year, and is paid in advance for the entire duration of a UK visa. On top of this, legal immigrants pay full council tax, income tax (20–45% depending on earnings), National Insurance, and VAT on goods and services—without eligibility for public benefits such as Universal Credit or housing support. “We are taxed like every other citizen, yet have no recourse to public funds,” Johnson emphasized.
In one of his most pointed remarks, Johnson criticized misinformation: “I have just seen a Twitter thread and one is questioning why we are using public bus, public parks etc without contributing. If their Government cannot inform them, we can. They watch our videos on TikTok. They judge us with those videos.” His call for informational counter-content has sparked a wave of responses from diasporic Nigerians showcasing tax bills, IHS receipts, and student loan repayments to highlight the burdens they bear.
Angantyr, the British user at the center of the controversy, eventually responded with a brief but telling reply: “Okay I’ll do it.” His acceptance has fuelled anticipation online, with several users proposing the debate or test be livestreamed across social media platforms for maximum transparency and accountability. So far, over 5,000 engagements have been recorded on Johnson’s original tweet.
While the date for the proposed English Language Skills test and economic contribution review has not yet been confirmed, observers say this development may set a precedent for how online racial narratives are confronted—not just with emotion, but with data, intelligence, and national dignity. As Johnson summed it up: “About time y’all are put where you belong.”
