Renowned Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has added her voice to the complaints over the deepening economic hardship across Nigeria, saying even the country’s middle class is slowly vanishing into poverty.
She made this known on Amazing Africans, a show aired on Channels TV.
According to her, what disturbs her most is not politics or policies, but the increasing suffering of everyday Nigerians.
💬 “Life has become so hard in Nigeria, and I can see it. People who were once securely middle class—are now begging. That worries me greatly.”
The author of Half of a Yellow Sun said it’s not about whether things were ever perfect, but that at least, people used to “get by.” Now, many of those people are trapped in desperation.
The Cost of Food, The Price of Suffering
She called attention to the price of food—saying it speaks more loudly than stock market charts or GDP reports.
💬 “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.”
💬 “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?”
Her words echo the frustration of millions. According to data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s food inflation soared to 40.66% in June 2025—its highest in recent years.
Hardship Can Break Even Good People
Adichie warned that when life becomes unbearably hard, even law-abiding citizens can be tempted into crime.
💬 “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. That’s dangerous to society.”
Her warning comes as kidnapping, petty theft, and cybercrime have all risen sharply—especially in urban areas.
Writing Is My Calling, Not a Career
On a personal note, she spoke about her writing journey. Her first novel, Purple Hibiscus, faced over two dozen rejections before finally getting published.
But she never thought of quitting.
💬 “The thought of quitting writing is never an option for me because writing is my vocation… it’s spiritual.”
💬 “Even if I hadn’t been published, I would still be writing today.”
In a time of silence and fear, Chimamanda reminds Nigerians, which prides itself as Africa’s most populous nation, and the world, that the soul of a nation is seen not in numbers, but in the dignity of its people.
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