Let’s be honest, most people running Facebook ads in Nigeria are winging it.

They’ve seen someone say “ads work,” they’ve watched one TikTok tutorial, then before they know…they’re throwing ₦20,000 into Mark Zuckerberg’s pocket hoping customers will magically appear.

The truth is…

Most Facebook ads fail.

Not because Facebook doesn’t work, it does.

But because a lot of business owners:

• Don’t know what they’re doing,

• Are targeting the wrong people,

• Or worse, can’t even get Facebook to charge their card in the first place.

And if you’ve been there, frustrated, refreshing Ads Manager while nothing is happening... you're not alone.

This guide is going to save your money and rescue your sanity.

First, Let’s Get This Straight: Boosting ≠ Real Ads

If the only ads you’ve ever done are boosted posts, I’ve got news for you.

You’re playing the “demo version” of Facebook ads.

Boosting is fine for awareness, but if you want leads, clicks, customers, sales, and actual returns, you need to use Facebook Ads Manager.

That’s where the real work, and real money, happens.

Ads Manager lets you:

• Choose specific campaign goals (sales, traffic, WhatsApp messages, etc.)

• Laser-target your audience (location, income, interests, behaviors)

• Set up retargeting ads (to follow up with people who interacted before)

• Track your actual results (not just vanity likes and comments)

So if you’re still clicking “Boost Post” and wondering why nothing is converting… there’s your answer.

Why Most Facebook Ads Fail in Nigeria

Let’s call it out:

1. You’re targeting everyone and their grandmother.

2. Your creative looks like a badly designed flyer from 2006.

3. Your copy (caption) doesn’t sell. It just talks.

4. You’re not tracking results, you're hoping.

5. You can't even pay to run the ad in the first place.

Let’s fix all that.

Step 1: Target Humans, Not Just Numbers

You’re not advertising to “18–65, all of Nigeria.” That’s chaos.

You need to know who you’re speaking to:

• Are they students? Young professionals? Moms? Business owners?

• Do they live in Lagos, Enugu, Ibadan, Accra?

• What keeps them up at night?

• What solution are they secretly searching for?

If you're selling waist trainers, don’t target tech bros. If you’re offering web design, don’t target tailors. Your targeting should be specific and intentional.

Step 2: Make Your Offer Stupidly Clear

What are you offering… and why should I care?

A lot of ads fail because the copy sounds like this:

“DM for more info” “We sell quality items. Fast delivery guaranteed.” “Shop with us today.”

Yawn.

Here’s what works:

“Get 40% off your first 3 deliveries this week only.” “₦15k logo design, delivered in 3 days or you get your money back.” “Want a US dollar card that works on Netflix, Canva, and ChatGPT? Try this.”

It’s clear. It’s specific. It’s a hook.

Your audience should know exactly what they’re getting and why they should act NOW.

Step 3: Your Design is Either Winning or Wasting Your Money

Facebook is visual. You’ve got 3 seconds to grab attention or lose it forever.

Your ad image/video is the first impression, and if it’s giving “I designed this in Microsoft Word,” your conversion rate will suffer.

Here’s what works:

• Clean product photos

• Real-life use cases (e.g. someone using your product)

• Before-and-after transformations

• Short, catchy videos with subtitles

• Face-to-camera videos (especially for service providers or coaches)

Good lighting + Clear message = High engagement.

And please, stop writing full paragraphs inside your ad design. That’s what the caption is for.

Step 4: Caption = Copy = Sales Tool

Your caption isn’t just “something to write.”

It’s where the selling happens.

Here’s a simple structure to follow:

Hook: Start with a bold, curiosity-sparking line. Pain Point: Highlight what they’re struggling with. Offer: Present your product/service as the solution. Call-To-Action: Tell them exactly what to do next.

Example:

Still struggling to pay for Netflix or Canva with your Naira card? Don’t stress — we built a virtual USD card that actually works. Sign up today, create your card, fund it with naira or crypto, and enjoy smooth payments — no declines, no drama. Click “Learn More” to get started.

That right there is… Better than 95% of the ads out there.

Step 5: Budget Smarter (Not Higher)

Here’s where beginners mess up.

They hear someone spent ₦100,000 on ads and made ₦500,000… so they try the same.

But if your targeting, creative, and copy are wrong, you could spend ₦500k and make zero.

Start small.

Even ₦1,500/day can give you real insight.

Use the first 2–3 days to test different audiences, creatives, and copies.

Kill the bad ones. Scale the good ones.

Don’t just throw money. Learn what works. Then press the gas.

But What If I Can’t Pay? Facebook Keeps Declining My Card

Let’s talk about the biggest wahala of them all.

You set everything up. You’re ready to run the ad. You input your card.

DECLINED.

You try another card. Same story.

You call your bank … they blame CBN or give you some vague “card policy” excuse.

And at that moment… you feel like giving up.

But don’t.

There’s an easier way.

Just Use Myaza USD Mastercard

Thousands of Nigerian creators, business owners, and founders now use Myaza to run ads and pay for global tools.

With Myaza, you get:

• A virtual USD Mastercard that works with Meta (Facebook/Instagram)

• Can be funded with naira or crypto (USDT/USDC)

• No payment fails, no hidden drama

• Also works with Canva, ChatGPT, Notion, Zoom, Shein, etc.

It’s fast. It’s reliable. It’s made for Nigerians.

And unlike other platforms that vanish when you need them, Myaza was built for consistency.

So stop begging your card to work. Stop waiting. Get the Myaza app, fund your card, and focus on what matters: your ads converting.

Finally…

This whole “Facebook ads don’t work” talk? It’s not true.

Bad ads don’t work. Weak copy doesn’t work. Targeting everyone doesn’t work. Trying to pay with a dead card doesn’t work.

But when you know what you’re doing… even a ₦3,000/day ad can bring in customers daily.

So:

• Learn how Facebook Ads Manager works

• Focus on your offer and your audience

• Create great visuals

• Use proper sales copy

• Track your results

• Use a working dollar card from Myaza

That’s how you win.

You don’t need luck. You need a working system.

Now go run that ad… and run it well.