Celebrated Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has raised alarm over the growing economic hardship in the country, saying it has pushed many formerly middle-class citizens into begging.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Amazing Africans, Adichie expressed deep concern about the worsening living conditions of ordinary Nigerians. She stressed that the true measure of any government’s performance lies in how well the average citizen is faring.
“Life in Nigeria has become extremely difficult, and I can see it,” she said. “People who were once securely middle-class — not rich, but managing are now begging. That deeply troubles me.”
The celebrated writer noted that while discussions often revolve around economic indices like the stock market, what truly matters is the everyday reality of those on minimum wage.
“I don’t care about things like the stock market,” she said. “What concerns me is how someone earning minimum wage is surviving in this economy. The suffering is terrible.”
Adichie also pointed out that although economic hardship doesn’t justify crime, desperation often drives people to choices they wouldn’t normally consider.
“It’s dangerous when people who would never have imagined doing certain things start to see them as options because life has become too hard,” she added.
