Why Nigerian Women Are Tired of Dating Apps – 6 Real Stories

Dating apps promised us love at the swipe of a finger. In a country where meeting someone new isn’t always easy, apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Badoo seemed like the perfect fix.

But behind the glossy profile pictures and witty bios, many Nigerian women have found frustration instead of romance.

Here are 6 real, relatable stories from Nigerian women who are fed up with dating apps — and why more women are starting to give up on them.

1. The endless “hey” messages

“I can’t count how many ‘hey’ messages I’ve gotten. Just ‘hey.’ Nothing else. No conversation starter, no effort. After a while, it feels like everyone’s just bored, not serious about anything.” – Ada, 27

For many women, the lack of real conversation makes dating apps feel like a waste of time.

2. The ghosting epidemic

“You talk to someone for a week, you think it’s going somewhere, and then suddenly… nothing. No reply, no explanation. Just silence. It messes with your head.” – Chiamaka, 30

Ghosting has become so common that many women no longer take online matches seriously.

3. The catfish problem

“One guy used a picture of a Nigerian celebrity as his profile photo. I thought he was joking, but he was dead serious. Others use old or heavily edited pictures. You never know who’s real anymore.” – Tolu, 25

Catfishing has turned dating apps into a playground of deception for some users.

4. The hookup culture

“Most of the men I met only wanted hookups. Even when they pretended to be serious at first, it always ended with them asking to ‘come over.’ It gets exhausting.” – Ifeoma, 29

What was meant to be a platform for connection often feels like a shortcut for casual flings.

5. The safety concerns

“I went on one date from an app, and the guy kept trying to pressure me into drinking more than I was comfortable with. It made me scared. Since then, I don’t meet anyone without doing a serious background check.” – Bukola, 32

Safety is one of the biggest reasons many Nigerian women are deleting their dating apps.

6. The marriage pressure

“Some guys ask about marriage within the first 10 minutes. Others run away the moment you mention you want something serious. It feels like a minefield.” – Hauwa, 28

For women who genuinely want relationships, the constant mismatch of intentions can be disheartening.

So, what’s next?

Dating apps may not be completely doomed — many couples have met online — but for Nigerian women, the frustration is real. From ghosting to safety concerns, the promise of finding love at first swipe hasn’t lived up to the hype.

Still, one thing is clear: whether offline or online, love will always find a way — but for now, many Nigerian women are choosing to log off dating apps and focus on more organic connections.

Over to you: Have you had a frustrating or funny dating app experience in Nigeria? Share your story in the comments — we’d love to hear it!