From Stability to Survival: Chimamanda Adichie Laments How Economic Collapse is Turning Nigeria’s Middle Class into Beggars

Renowned Nigerian author and global literary icon, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has voiced deep concern over the escalating economic crisis in Nigeria, revealing that the situation has grown so dire that even members of the country’s once-stable middle class are now resorting to begging to survive.

Speaking during a candid interview on Channels Television’s “Amazing Africans”, Adichie painted a grim picture of how rapidly Nigeria’s economic reality has deteriorated for everyday citizens.

> “People who were once managing — not rich, but comfortable — are now begging. That deeply troubles me,” she said.

Adichie, known for her fearless commentary on social and political issues, emphasized that the strength of any government should be measured by the wellbeing of its citizens, not by macroeconomic indicators like GDP or the performance of the stock market.

> “I don’t care about the stock market,” she said. “What matters is how someone on minimum wage is feeding their family. The suffering is terrible.”

She further warned that while poverty and hardship don’t excuse criminality, prolonged desperation often pushes individuals to consider actions they never would have imagined.

> “It’s dangerous when people who never envisioned stealing or doing something unlawful begin to view it as the only option.”

Adichie’s statements come amid growing public discontent over soaring inflation*, *naira devaluation, and the removal of fuel subsidies, all of which have contributed to a sharp decline in the standard of living for millions across Nigeria.

Stay with us for more in-depth analysis on how Nigeria’s economic decisions are impacting everyday lives.