Middle-Class Reduced to Beggars, Chimamanda Decries Hardship in Nigeria

 Renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on August 03, 2025, issued a scathing critique of Nigeria’s economic decline, lamenting that the middle class has been “reduced to beggars” due to escalating hardship. 

In a widely circulated social media post and interview, Adichie highlighted the impact of inflation, which hit 33.4% in July 2025, and the removal of fuel subsidies in 2023, driving food prices up by 40% and transport costs by 50%. She cited personal anecdotes of professionals, teachers, nurses, and small business owners, struggling to afford basics, a stark contrast to the pre-2023 era when the middle class, estimated at 15% of Nigeria’s 220 million population, enjoyed relative stability.

Adichie’s comments align with data from the National Bureau of Statistics, showing 70 million Nigerians living below $2.15 daily, a rise attributed to policy shifts under President Tinubu. While the government touts GDP growth at 3.2% in 2025, critics argue it masks inequality, with the wealthiest 1% controlling 40% of wealth. 

Some defend the reforms as necessary for long-term gains, but Adichie’s narrative of a collapsing middle class resonates with public discontent, fueling debates on whether economic restructuring prioritizes the elite over the broader populace, a tension likely to shape political discourse ahead.