Former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed his frustration with Nigerians over what he perceives as their passive response to the country’s worsening economic challenges. In a recent interview with ABN TV, the former governor of Rivers State called on Nigerians, especially the youth, to take to the streets and protest against the soaring cost of living.
Amaechi, who served as Minister of Transportation under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from 2015 to 2022, did not hold back in expressing his disappointment at what he sees as a lack of action from citizens, especially in the face of growing economic hardship.
“I am angry with the citizens,” Amaechi said bluntly during the interview. “People should be angry because you cannot see a group of people stealing your money without doing anything. I am really angry with the citizens because they are not doing anything.”
The former minister expressed his expectation that Nigerian youths would have already risen up in protest against the difficult economic situation. He referenced the increasing cost of living, driven by inflation and high fuel prices, as a key reason why citizens should be demanding change.
“I expected youths to storm different streets and protest against the high cost of living, but I have not seen anything that shows they are serious,” Amaechi lamented. “People should be angry. There should be protests.”
His comments come at a time when Nigeria is grappling with severe economic difficulties. Since the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023 under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the price of petrol has more than tripled, pushing up the cost of transportation, goods, and services. Diesel, widely used by businesses and individuals for electricity generation due to frequent power cuts, has also skyrocketed in price, further worsening the economic strain on Nigerians.
Amaechi highlighted the unaffordable cost of diesel to illustrate how dire the situation has become. “Some of us cannot afford to buy diesel again because it’s costly,” he said. “If people like us can’t afford diesel, you can imagine how others are coping.”
Amaechi also used the opportunity to criticize political campaigns taking place in Edo State, questioning why politicians were actively campaigning while the state, and indeed the entire country, is facing such severe economic hardship. He argued that there should be no elections under such dire circumstances and that the focus should be on resolving the economic crisis before any political activities resume.
“Look at what happened in Edo State,” Amaechi said. “Should any politician be campaigning in Edo State? We will not vote; there will be no election in our state because of the current rate of hunger.”
His remarks suggest a deep frustration not just with the government’s handling of the economy, but also with citizens’ seeming acceptance of the situation without demanding accountability from their leaders. Amaechi believes that the hardships facing Nigerians are severe enough to warrant mass protests and civil action, but he is disappointed that no significant movement has emerged to challenge the status quo.
Nigeria’s economic troubles have been exacerbated by multiple factors, including the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a steep decline in oil revenue (Nigeria’s main export), and the recent removal of fuel subsidies. The subsidy removal, while considered a necessary reform by some economists, has led to a sharp rise in fuel prices, with petrol now costing over N600 per liter in some parts of the country. This price surge has had a domino effect, causing the cost of basic goods and services to rise dramatically.
The government has introduced palliatives, such as cash transfers and food distribution to the poorest Nigerians, in an attempt to cushion the impact. However, many have criticized these measures as inadequate, especially given the scope of the crisis.
Amaechi’s frustration with the state of the nation comes after his long career in Nigerian politics. He served as the governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 before taking on the role of Minister of Transportation. As a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he was a key player in President Buhari’s administration and was responsible for overseeing significant infrastructure projects, particularly in the transportation sector, including the much-publicized railway modernization projects.
In 2022, Amaechi contested for the APC presidential ticket for the 2023 elections but lost to Bola Tinubu, who eventually became Nigeria’s president. Since then, Amaechi has remained a vocal figure in Nigerian politics, often commenting on national issues and expressing his concerns about the direction the country is heading.