Chimamanda Adichie Blasts Tinubu Government Over Worsening Economic Hardship

Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the rising economic hardship in the country, warning that the deteriorating living conditions have pushed many middle-class Nigerians into poverty.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s programme Amazing Africans, Adichie described the level of suffering across the country as “deeply troubling” and cautioned that worsening poverty could lead even decent citizens into desperation and crime.

“Life has become so hard in Nigeria, and I can see it,” she said. “People who were formerly securely middle class—people who used to get by—are now begging and in need. That worries me greatly.”

The award-winning novelist pointed to the surging cost of food and basic necessities as evidence of the economic crisis, arguing that the success or failure of any government should be measured by the quality of life of its people, not by financial market indicators.

“The level of suffering, how expensive food has become… I think the biggest political judgment one can make is about the lives of ordinary people,” she said. “People talk about the stock market. Personally, I don’t really care about those sorts of things. What I care about is: that person earning minimum wage, how is that person getting on in this economy? It’s the suffering that worries me the most. And it’s terrible.”

Adichie further warned that the deepening hardship could drive some law-abiding citizens into unlawful acts out of desperation.

“It’s not to excuse crime, but I think when life gets very hard, even people who before would not have considered certain things suddenly are willing to—and that’s dangerous to society,” she said.

Her remarks come amid mounting public discontent over inflation, the weakening naira, and the removal of fuel subsidy, all of which have significantly increased the cost of living since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

Related posts