Orji Kalu admits Nigerians hungry under Tinubu but defends reforms as necessary
Orji Kalu, Abia North senator and APC member, acknowledged on ARISE TV Monday that Nigerians are hungry and facing economic hardship under President Tinubu, but argued such pain is inevitable during major reforms. "People are shouting poverty. Yes, people are hungry. Even President Tinubu himself knows that things are difficult. You can't go into reform without things going difficult," he said.
Kalu distinguished between macroeconomic stability—which he said the administration has achieved through stabilized fuel prices and foreign exchange—and micro-level suffering that persists. He cited greater predictability for manufacturers who can now plan production costs, and noted factories operate better than in 2020, though many still struggle to pay salaries.
The former Abia governor outlined the next phase: defeat insecurity so farmers return to farms, expand manufacturing with better raw material access, and translate macro gains into welfare improvements. He pointed to Brazil under Lula da Silva as proof reforms bring hardship before broad benefits.
Kalu urged Tinubu's team to focus on economic growth, particularly manufacturing, to ensure stability reaches citizens. He argued the APC deserves another mandate to complete this transition.
Will macroeconomic stability ever reach your market price or salary slip, or is "light at the end of the tunnel" just another political promise?