LAGOS, Nigeria — Renowned Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie has raised alarm over the deepening economic hardship in Nigeria, lamenting the toll it is taking on ordinary citizens, especially the country’s shrinking middle class.
In a heartfelt interview on Amazing Africans, a programme aired on Channels Television, Adichie expressed concern that the country’s worsening economy has reduced once-comfortable Nigerians to the point of destitution.
“Life has become so hard in Nigeria, and me I can see it,” she said.
“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.”
The celebrated author of Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah said her biggest concern is not economic metrics like the stock market but how everyday Nigerians are faring in the face of rising inflation and declining purchasing power.
“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,” she added.
“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.”
While acknowledging the seriousness of rising crime, Adichie drew a line between understanding and excusing it, pointing out that hardship can push even morally upright individuals to desperation.
“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 noted.
Adichie also reflected on her writing journey, revealing that her critically acclaimed debut novel, Purple Hibiscus, faced more than 25 rejections before it was finally published.
Despite the setbacks, she never considered giving up.
“The thought of quitting writing is never an option for me because writing is my vocation,” she said.
“It’s 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.”
Now globally recognised for her bold voice, feminist thought, and vivid storytelling, Adichie continues to use her platform to draw attention to the lived realities of Nigerians—especially in times of national crisis.
