Middle class in Nigeria now begging because of hardship – Chimamanda
By Jeffrey Agbo
Renowned author Chimamanda Adichie has decried the worsening economic conditions in the country, saying the hardship has forced many middle-class Nigerians into begging for survival.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Amazing Africans, Adichie said the widespread suffering of ordinary citizens is what deeply troubles her about Nigeria’s current state.
“Life has become so hard in Nigeria, and me I can see it. For example, people who were formerly kind of securely middle class, not that life was rosy for them, but they got by—are now people who beg and are in need. That worries me greatly,” she said.
She pointed to the sharp increase in the cost of living, especially food prices, and emphasized that true political leadership should be assessed by how well it improves the lives of everyday people.
“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? It’s the suffering that worries me the most. And it’s terrible,” she said.
Adichie also expressed concern that extreme hardship can push people toward desperate and unlawful actions.
“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.
Reflecting on her writing career, the award-winning novelist shared how she faced repeated rejection early on but never considered giving up.
“The thought of quitting writing is never an option for me because writing is my vocation. Writing is really what I believe I am here to do; it’s a bit spiritual.
“I feel that is a gift that I am given, and so even if I hadn’t been published, I would still be writing today. So, the idea of giving up writing was never an option. But it (the rejection) was demoralising,” Adichie said.
