Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has called on Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu’s administration more time to implement its policies, arguing that the country’s economic situation is not as bad as some critics have portrayed it.
Kosoko, while acknowledging that many citizens were experiencing hardship, questioned the circumstances of some Nigerians complaining about hunger and urged them to reflect on their economic conditions before the current administration assumed office.
The actor made the remarks during an interview on the Talktobpodcast, hosted by Biola Adebayo and published on Saturday, where he discussed the rising cost of living, fuel subsidy removal, food prices, public criticism and the state of the Nigerian economy.
Reacting to complaints about hunger and the rising cost of food, Kosoko urged Nigerians to consider how their circumstances had evolved over time.
“When you see people saying, ‘I am hungry, I am hungry,’ go and check the majority of those people saying that before Tinubu came. What were they doing? What were they eating? Every year, things change,” he said.
The veteran actor maintained that the country's challenges should not be interpreted to mean that every aspect of the economy was performing poorly.
“Things are not as bad as some people made us understand,” he said.
He argued that people continued to make money through different means, although he acknowledged that some Nigerians were yet to experience financial improvement.
“People make money here and there. Some people might still be unlucky, but that is not to say their own time will not come,” Kosoko said.
However, he was careful to acknowledge the difficulties facing households, stressing that his position should not be interpreted as a denial of the economic pressure many citizens were experiencing.
“I’m not saying things are rosy,” he said.
Calls for patience with Tinubu’s administration
Kosoko urged Nigerians to allow the President and his team sufficient time to pursue their policies and complete the programmes they had initiated.
“Let’s try and allow Mr President and his team to finish what they started,” he said.
His remarks come amid widespread public debate over the effects of economic reforms introduced under Tinubu, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the resulting pressure on household budgets and transportation costs.
While supporters of the reforms have argued that they could help redirect government resources towards other priorities, many Nigerians continue to express concerns about the immediate impact on their purchasing power and standard of living.
Kosoko defended the decision to remove the fuel subsidy, arguing that maintaining the arrangement placed a burden on the country's future finances.
“That’s the subsidy. The money being used to take care of you and me that we consider that subsidy is something that is putting us in problems for tomorrow,” he said.
The actor suggested that resources previously committed to the subsidy could have implications for other household and public spending priorities, including education.
He also referred to the student loan scheme as part of the government's response to the financial demands associated with education, saying it had assumed some responsibilities traditionally borne by parents.
‘Who is hiking food prices?’
Beyond government policy, Kosoko challenged Nigerians to examine the role of traders and sellers in the persistent rise in food prices.
He argued that increases in the cost of goods should prompt questions about the people and businesses responsible for setting prices, rather than criticism being directed exclusively at the government.
“We are enemies of ourselves because when they continue to say, ‘Ah, the price is up,’ then who is hiking it? Who is putting it up? Is it not ourselves?” he asked.
His comments placed part of the responsibility for rising prices on market participants, although food costs are also influenced by broader factors such as transportation, production expenses, supply constraints and other economic conditions.
The actor also offered his perspective on food consumption, suggesting that Nigerians could manage their resources by prioritising nutritious meals over expensive eating habits.
“If you eat once a day and good food, you are good to go,” he said.
The remark formed part of his broader appeal for citizens to consider their spending choices amid prevailing economic difficulties.
Rejects destructive protests, supports constructive criticism
Kosoko also spoke against protests that result in destruction, while recognising the importance of public criticism in a democratic society.
“Destructive protest is not welcome,” he said.
He maintained that criticism remained necessary because it helped the government understand the areas in which Nigerians were experiencing the greatest difficulties.
His position reflected a call for public engagement that allows citizens to express dissatisfaction while avoiding actions that could cause damage to property or disrupt communities.
The actor also addressed the issue of Nigerians leaving the country in search of better opportunities, commonly described as japa, saying he had no plans to relocate abroad.
“Even if I am able to japa, don’t I have families, relatives still at home?” he said.
For Kosoko, family ties and a sense of belonging remain important considerations in deciding whether to leave Nigeria, despite the country's economic challenges.
He concluded by expressing confidence in the country's potential and urging Nigerians to maintain faith in its future.
“Nigeria is a great country,” he said.
Kosoko's comments have added to the ongoing national conversation about the government's economic policies, the rising cost of living and the competing views on how best to address the difficulties confronting households.
While he has called for patience with the Tinubu administration, his acknowledgement that many Nigerians are hurting underscores the central challenge facing policymakers: translating economic reforms into tangible improvements in citizens' daily lives.