Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has voiced serious concern over the deepening economic crisis in the country, warning that worsening conditions have driven many formerly middle-class citizens into poverty.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Amazing Africans, Adichie highlighted the growing struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians, describing them as the most distressing aspect of the country’s current challenges.
“Life has become so hard in Nigeria, and I can see it,” she said. “People who were once part of the securely middle class—not that they were thriving, but they got by—are now in situations where they’re in need and even begging. That worries me greatly.”
Adichie pointed to the soaring cost of living, especially the sharp increase in food prices, as a key indicator of the economic decline. She emphasized that a government’s effectiveness should be measured by how it impacts the daily lives of its citizens.
“The level of suffering, how expensive food has become… I think the most important political judgement one can make is about the condition of ordinary people,” she said.
“People talk about the stock market, but personally, I don’t care about that. What matters to me is how the person earning minimum wage is surviving in this economy. That’s what really worries me.”
She also cautioned that persistent economic hardship could push otherwise law-abiding citizens into desperate situations, potentially increasing crime and social instability.
“It’s not an excuse for crime, but when life becomes unbearably hard, people who would never have considered breaking the law may begin to see it as an option. That’s dangerous for any society,” she warned.
Reflecting on her career, Adichie shared that her debut novel, Purple Hibiscus, faced more than two dozen rejections before being published. Despite the setbacks, she said quitting was never an option.
“Writing is my vocation; it’s what I believe I was meant to do. It’s almost spiritual,” she explained. “Even if I had never been published, I would still be writing today. So while the rejections were demoralizing, giving up was never on the table.”
Adichie’s remarks come amid growing public discontent over Nigeria’s economic direction, with inflation, unemployment, and food insecurity placing increasing pressure on citizens across the country.
