Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has sparked controversy after questioning Nigerians complaining about hunger under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting that the country’s economic situation is not as bad as critics portray it.
Kosoko made the remarks during an interview on Talk To B, a podcast hosted by actress Biola Adebayo. Clips from the interview have circulated online, drawing criticism from Nigerians who say his comments overlook the difficulties many households face.
The actor’s remarks have reignited debate about the government’s economic reforms, rising living costs and what ordinary citizens have gained since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. 
Jide Kosoko asks Nigerians what they ate before Tinubu
Defending the president, Jide Kosoko questioned the circumstances of people who complain about hunger and challenged them to compare their lives before and after Tinubu came to power.
“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?” he said.
Kosoko maintained that the situation was not as bad as some Nigerians had been led to believe. However, he acknowledged that the country still faced serious problems, arguing that Tinubu was working to address challenges inherited from previous administrations.
He also defended the government’s reforms, including petrol subsidy removal, and pointed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an initiative that could ease some families’ financial burdens.
Actor faces questions over what ordinary Nigerians have gained
Kosoko’s defence of the administration became more contentious when the discussion turned to what the average Nigerian could point to as evidence that the government was improving the country.
The actor instead launched into a monologue of his life story. He recounted how he got into theatre at the age of 10, how he has been diabetic for 30 years, and how the youths refuse to help each other while accusing the older generation of ruining the industry.
He also encouraged beneficiaries of government programmes, particularly student loans, to speak publicly about their experiences.
Nigerians question Kosoko’s position amid rising living costs
Online reactions have centred on whether Kosoko’s comments adequately reflect the experiences of low-income earners and families struggling to afford basic necessities. Critics argue that asking what people ate before Tinubu does not establish whether their purchasing power has improved.
The economic concerns remain significant. Reuters reported on October 15, 2026 that Nigeria’s annual inflation rate fell to 14.63% in September, while food inflation remained at 19.59%.
Although easing inflation can indicate that prices are rising more slowly, it does not necessarily mean that food has become affordable or that prices have returned to previous levels.
For many critics, the central question is therefore not whether the government has introduced policies, but whether those policies have delivered tangible relief to ordinary Nigerians.
Kosoko’s comments have added another voice to the increasingly heated debate over Tinubu’s economic record, with supporters calling for patience and critics demanding clearer evidence of improvement in household living standards.
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