Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has expressed grave concern over the country’s deepening economic crisis, warning that the once-stable middle class is rapidly descending into poverty and desperation.
Appearing on Amazing Africans, a program aired by Channels Television, Adichie described the current economic hardship in Nigeria as “deeply troubling,” particularly for those who were once able to live modest but comfortable lives.
“Life in Nigeria has become extremely difficult, and I see it clearly,” she said. “People who used to live modestly but comfortably the middle class are now struggling, some even begging. That deeply worries me.”
Adichie pointed to the soaring cost of living especially skyrocketing food prices as a key indicator of the hardship faced by everyday Nigerians.
She emphasized that a government’s true performance should be judged not by economic indices or market performance, but by the lived reality of its people.
“Food has become incredibly expensive. When we talk politics, I think the most important measure is: how are everyday people doing? I don’t care about the stock market. I care about that person on minimum wage how are they surviving in this economy? That suffering is what haunts me the most,” she said.
She also warned that this increasing desperation may push even law-abiding citizens toward criminal behavior, posing a serious threat to social stability.
“This isn’t an excuse for crime, but when people are pushed to the edge, even those who would never have considered certain actions before might now see them as options. That’s dangerous for society,” Adichie cautioned.
Reflecting on her own journey as a writer, Adichie shared that her acclaimed debut novel, Purple Hibiscus, faced over 20 rejections before it was finally accepted for publication.
“I never considered giving up. Writing is my calling it’s spiritual for me. Even if I was never published, I would still write. But yes, the rejections were painful and discouraging,” she said.
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