Nigerian gospel singer, Minister, Lilian Nneji, has raised concerns over what she described as deliberate attempts by some individuals in the gospel music industry to frustrate her career.
Nneji made the allegation in an emotional video shared on her social media platforms, claiming that event organisers interested in inviting her to minister at their programmes had been given false information about her availability.
According to the singer, she recently encountered several people who told her they had wanted to invite her for events but were discouraged after contacting individuals who allegedly claimed she was unavailable.
She said about four people had approached her within a week with similar accounts.
“For the past one week, I have met about four persons in different places, and whenever they see me, I hear words like, ‘Oh, Minister Lilian, you are in town? We had a program, and we wanted to invite you. We reached out to some persons, and they said to us, you have travelled, you are on vacation,’” she said.
Nneji expressed disbelief over claims that she was travelling or on tour, stressing that she would announce such plans publicly.
“To some other persons, they’ve said that Lilian Nneji is busy travelling around, she’s on tour. Did I tell you I’m on tour? Did I announce to you that I’m on tour? Some of you know if I have to go on tour, I will post it,” she added.
The gospel artiste accused those allegedly spreading the misinformation of intentionally preventing her from receiving invitations to programmes.
“Why would they want to invite me for a program, and you are telling them that I travelled, I went on vacation, when you have no information? Just because you don’t want them to invite me for the program,” she said.
Describing the alleged behaviour as “stylishly practicing witchcraft,” Nneji appealed to those responsible to desist from it.
She also rejected claims that she was no longer based in Lagos, noting that she was born in the state and still maintains strong connections there.
“Another person said, ‘Oh, Lilian Nneji, she’s not based in Lagos.’ For crying out loud, if Lagos was like any other country or some of these countries, I should have my citizenship because I was born here in Lagos,” she said.
Nneji further addressed claims about her personality, including allegations that she was proud or snobbish.
“Some said, ‘You are too proudful.’ Some said, ‘You are a snob.’ I don’t even care about all that because people would always say.
“Some of you would even say, ‘Oh, I don’t have her number.’ Meanwhile, you get my number, you know how to reach me,” she added.
The singer also questioned why some people were allegedly discussing her ethnic background when the issue was simply about contacting her for programmes.
“Another person said she’s an Igbo artist. Why are you reading my CV?” she asked.
She advised event organisers seeking to engage her to use the official contact details provided across her social media platforms.
“For everyone who wants to invite me for programs, the number you can call is on all my social media handles—it’s on IG, TikTok, YouTube, everywhere,” she said.
Nneji said her team remained available to respond to genuine invitations and urged anyone allegedly involved in frustrating her engagements to stop.
“My team is active, we will give you a response. But I beg you, if you are the one doing this, stop it. It won’t take you anywhere,” she added.
