Veteran Nollywood actor defends Tinubu’s economic policies, urges Nigerians to give the President more time, backs fuel subsidy removal and warns against destructive protests.

Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration amid growing public frustration over the rising cost of living, questioning what Nigerians complaining of hunger ate before the President assumed office.

Kosoko argued that although many citizens are struggling with economic hardship, the situation is not as terrible as some critics have portrayed it. He urged Nigerians to consider their circumstances before Tinubu became President and allow his administration more time to deliver on its promises.

The actor made the remarks during an interview on the Talktob Podcast, hosted by Biola Adebayo and published on Saturday.

Reacting to widespread complaints about rising food prices and the difficulty of meeting basic household needs, Kosoko challenged Nigerians to reflect on how their lives compared with previous years.

“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.

He maintained that the country’s economic challenges should not be exaggerated, insisting that some Nigerians were still finding ways to earn a living despite the prevailing difficulties.

“Things are not as bad as some people made us understand,” Kosoko added.

The actor acknowledged, however, that the economic situation had brought genuine hardship to many households, stressing that his defence of the administration did not mean everything was going well.

“I’m not saying things are rosy,” he said.

He argued that some people were making money through different opportunities, while others who had yet to achieve financial stability should not lose hope that their circumstances could improve.

According to him, Nigerians should exercise patience and give Tinubu and his team sufficient time to complete the programmes and policies they have initiated.

“Let’s try and allow Mr President and his team to finish what they started,” he said.

Kosoko defends fuel subsidy removal

The veteran actor also threw his weight behind the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that maintaining the policy could have created greater financial difficulties for the country in the long run.

He likened the subsidy arrangement to borrowing money without a clear plan for repayment, suggesting that what appeared to be immediate relief for citizens could eventually become a heavier burden.

“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.

Kosoko acknowledged that retaining the subsidy might have left Nigerians with more money to spend on essential needs, including school fees. However, he suggested that government interventions, including the student loan scheme, could help ease some of the financial responsibilities traditionally shouldered by parents.

His comments come amid continuing public debate over the effects of subsidy removal, particularly its impact on transportation costs, food prices and the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.

‘Good food does not have to be expensive’

Kosoko also offered his perspective on how Nigerians could cope with the rising cost of living, suggesting that people should reconsider their eating habits and focus on affordable but nutritious meals.

“If you eat once a day and good food, you are good to go,” he said.

The actor further criticised the tendency of traders and sellers to increase prices whenever the cost of goods rises elsewhere, arguing that Nigerians must also examine their own role in the country’s economic difficulties.

He questioned why people continued to complain about rising prices without paying sufficient attention to those responsible for setting them.

“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 remarks suggest that, beyond government policies, he believes individual attitudes and business practices also contribute to the financial pressures facing consumers.

Actor rejects destructive protests, backs constructive criticism

On public demonstrations and criticism of the government, Kosoko said destructive protests were unacceptable, although he recognised the importance of citizens expressing their grievances.

“Destructive protest is not welcome,” he said.

He maintained that criticism remained necessary because it could help the government identify areas where Nigerians were experiencing the greatest hardship and take appropriate action.

His position reflects a call for citizens to express dissatisfaction without resorting to violence or actions that could further damage the country.

‘Nigeria is a great country’

Kosoko also dismissed the idea of leaving Nigeria permanently, popularly described as japa, saying his family ties and connections to the country remained important to him.

“Even if I am able to japa, don’t I have families, relatives still at home?” he asked.

He urged Nigerians to remain hopeful about the country's future rather than constantly speaking negatively about it.

“Nigeria is a great country,” he said.

The actor’s comments have added his voice to the ongoing national conversation about Tinubu’s economic policies, the removal of fuel subsidies, rising food prices and the growing pressure on households to afford basic necessities.

While Kosoko believes the administration should be given more time to deliver on its promises, his remarks come against the backdrop of persistent concerns about the cost of living and calls for government action to ease the burden on ordinary Nigerians.