Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration amid criticism over Nigeria’s economic difficulties, arguing that the country’s situation is not as bad as some Nigerians portray it and urging citizens to give the government more time to implement its policies.
Kosoko made the remarks during an appearance on Talk To B, a podcast hosted by actress Biola Adebayo, where he discussed the administration’s economic reforms, the removal of fuel subsidies, student financial assistance and the challenges facing Nigerians.
The actor acknowledged that the country was experiencing difficult conditions but maintained that some of the problems predated Tinubu’s presidency. He attributed part of the situation to previous administrations’ failure to adequately plan for Nigeria’s growing population and argued that the current government was attempting to address those longstanding challenges.
His comments come amid continuing public debate over the cost of living, government economic policies and the impact of reforms introduced since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
Kosoko, a known supporter of the president and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), also urged Nigerians to reconsider their assessment of the administration, particularly in relation to its social intervention programmes.
Kosoko Says Economic Conditions Are Not as Bad as Critics Suggest
During the podcast interview, Kosoko challenged the perception that Nigerians were uniformly worse off under the current administration.
He argued that people experienced different economic circumstances and that financial opportunities were not distributed equally among citizens.
The actor maintained that while some Nigerians were struggling, others continued to earn money through their businesses and other sources of income.
However, he acknowledged that his position did not mean the country had overcome its economic difficulties.
Kosoko said the administration was dealing with numerous challenges and insisted that Tinubu was making efforts to address them.
His argument centred on the belief that the current economic situation should be assessed alongside the structural problems inherited from previous governments.
According to him, successive administrations had failed to prepare adequately for population growth and its implications for public services, infrastructure, employment and the broader economy.
He argued that those shortcomings had contributed to the difficulties the country was experiencing today.
Nevertheless, the actor’s assessment represents his personal political and economic opinion. It does not, by itself, establish how the government’s policies have affected the living standards of Nigerians across different income groups.
The impact of economic reforms can vary significantly depending on employment status, household income, location and access to essential services.
Veteran Actor Attributes Nigeria’s Problems to Previous Governments
Kosoko placed considerable emphasis on the role of previous administrations in shaping Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
He argued that governments had not done enough to prepare the country for the consequences of a steadily increasing population.
Nigeria’s population growth places pressure on public infrastructure and essential services, including schools, hospitals, housing, transportation and electricity.
A growing population can also expand the labour force and consumer market, but the benefits depend partly on whether the economy creates sufficient productive employment and whether public investment keeps pace with demand.
Kosoko suggested that earlier governments should have anticipated these pressures and developed policies to manage them more effectively.
He maintained that Tinubu’s administration was now attempting to address problems that had accumulated over several years.
However, assigning responsibility for Nigeria’s economic difficulties requires consideration of several factors, including decisions made by successive governments, international economic conditions, domestic productivity, public revenue and the structure of the national economy.
While previous administrations made important policy choices, the current government remains responsible for the decisions it takes and the results those decisions produce during its tenure.
The distinction is important because Nigerians evaluating the administration need to consider both the conditions inherited by Tinubu and the measurable effects of the policies introduced since he took office.
Kosoko Defends Fuel Subsidy Removal
One of the central issues discussed during the interview was the removal of Nigeria’s petrol subsidy, a major economic policy introduced by Tinubu shortly after his inauguration in May 2023.
The policy ended the federal government’s previous arrangement of subsidising petrol consumption, contributing to a sharp increase in pump prices and transportation costs.
The removal was defended by the administration as part of efforts to reduce government expenditure and redirect public resources towards other priorities.
However, the immediate effects placed additional pressure on households and businesses that depend heavily on petrol for transportation, electricity generation and other daily activities.
Higher transport and operating costs can also influence the prices of food and other essential goods, particularly where businesses transfer increased expenses to consumers.
Kosoko argued that Nigerians had to confront the country’s economic realities rather than expect government subsidies to continue indefinitely.
He maintained that resources previously used to support fuel consumption could be redirected towards other public needs.
The actor also suggested that some of the financial benefits people expected from cheaper petrol might otherwise have been spent on necessities such as education and maintaining businesses.
His position reflects an argument frequently advanced by supporters of subsidy removal: that reducing the government’s fuel subsidy burden can create room for other forms of public expenditure.
However, the policy’s overall benefits depend on how much the government saves, how those savings are managed and whether they translate into improvements that citizens can experience.
The distribution of the costs and benefits also remains important. Lower-income households often have less capacity to absorb sudden increases in transportation, food and energy expenses.
For that reason, an assessment of the policy must consider not only government savings but also its effects on household purchasing power, inflation, employment and business activity.
Kosoko acknowledged that the country remained in a difficult period but argued that Nigerians needed to cooperate with the government as it attempted to address longstanding problems.
Actor Points to NELFUND Student Loan Scheme
Kosoko also cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an example of a government programme that could help reduce the financial burden on Nigerian families.
The student loan scheme was established to provide eligible students with financial support for tertiary education, particularly assistance with institutional fees.
For many households, the cost of higher education can be a significant financial responsibility, especially when parents are simultaneously dealing with rising living expenses and other family obligations.
Kosoko argued that students benefiting from the programme should speak publicly about their experiences so that Nigerians could better understand the scheme’s practical impact.
He maintained that beneficiaries could help demonstrate whether the government’s educational support initiatives were making a difference.
The programme has the potential to improve access to higher education for eligible students who might otherwise struggle to pay their fees.
However, its overall effectiveness depends on implementation, awareness, eligibility requirements, timely disbursement and the ability of students to access the support they need.
Student loans also differ from grants because recipients may be required to repay the money under the applicable terms.
Consequently, evaluating the programme requires examining how many students receive assistance, whether the funding reaches them when needed and how the repayment arrangements affect beneficiaries after graduation.
Kosoko’s comments highlighted the importance of communicating the experiences of students who have benefited from public programmes.
At the same time, individual accounts should be considered alongside independently verifiable information about the scheme’s reach, funding and outcomes.
Kosoko Urges Nigerians to Give Tinubu More Time
Beyond defending specific policies, Kosoko called on Nigerians to allow Tinubu to continue implementing his administration’s agenda.
He argued that the country needed to confront its economic challenges collectively and that the effects of major policy changes could take time to become fully apparent.
The actor also maintained that the government should not be judged solely by whether it distributes food or other materials directly to citizens.
Instead, he urged Nigerians to examine the broader policies and programmes introduced by the administration.
Kosoko expressed confidence that the government could improve the country’s circumstances if citizens remained patient and cooperated with the reform process.
His position reflects a broader argument made by supporters of the administration that difficult economic decisions may be necessary to address longstanding fiscal and structural problems.
Critics, however, have argued that the burden of reform has fallen heavily on ordinary Nigerians and that government policies should produce tangible improvements in living standards.
The disagreement highlights a central question in Nigeria’s economic debate: how long citizens should be expected to endure hardship before reforms deliver meaningful benefits.
For households facing higher food prices, transport expenses, school fees and other essential costs, the effects of economic policies are often measured through their daily purchasing power rather than the government’s stated long-term objectives.
This makes the pace and distribution of any economic recovery important considerations when assessing the administration’s performance.
Actor Calls for Tinubu’s Re-election
Kosoko went beyond defending the administration’s record by urging Nigerians to re-elect Tinubu in the next presidential election.
He argued that the president should be allowed to complete the work his government had started and expressed the view that opposition parties had not presented a convincing alternative.
The actor also suggested that political opposition was contributing to negative perceptions of the administration.
His remarks reflect his established support for Tinubu, which dates back to before the 2023 presidential election.
Kosoko has previously joined other Yoruba entertainment figures in expressing support for the president, who contested the 2023 election as the APC candidate.
Tinubu won that election and was sworn in as president on May 29, 2023.
Kosoko’s latest appeal places him among public figures using their platforms to influence discussion about the administration’s record and political future.
Nevertheless, his endorsement represents an individual political position rather than an indication of how Nigerians as a whole intend to vote.
The 2027 presidential election will give eligible voters an opportunity to assess the performance of the incumbent administration and consider the candidates presented by competing political parties.
Voters’ decisions are likely to be influenced by a range of issues, including the cost of living, security, employment, public services, infrastructure and confidence in political leadership.
Nigeria’s Economic Debate Extends Beyond Political Support
Kosoko’s intervention illustrates the continuing debate over how Nigerians should assess Tinubu’s economic reforms.
Supporters of the administration argue that policies such as fuel subsidy removal are intended to address longstanding fiscal pressures and create opportunities for more sustainable public spending.
They also point to social programmes, including student financial assistance, as examples of efforts to support citizens during the reform process.
Critics, however, argue that the immediate costs of economic changes have placed considerable pressure on households and that government interventions must be assessed against the scale of the hardship experienced by the population.
Both the immediate consequences of policy decisions and their longer-term outcomes are relevant to an informed assessment.
For example, reducing government expenditure on subsidies may improve the public finances, but the broader economic benefit depends on whether the resulting resources are used effectively and whether the government can strengthen productivity and employment.
Similarly, educational loans may help eligible students pay their fees, but their contribution to national development depends on access, implementation and the opportunities available to graduates.
These questions require evidence beyond political endorsements or criticism.
Official economic data, government expenditure records, independently assessed programme outcomes and the experiences of affected households can help establish whether policies are delivering their intended results.
Public figures such as Kosoko can contribute to the debate by explaining their views, but their statements should be considered alongside wider evidence and the perspectives of Nigerians experiencing the effects of government decisions.
Why Kosoko’s Comments Matter
The comments are significant because entertainment personalities can influence public conversations, particularly when they speak about national politics and economic conditions.
Nollywood has a substantial audience in Nigeria and across the African diaspora, giving prominent actors platforms that extend beyond their professional work.
When a recognised figure publicly defends a government, the intervention can attract attention to policies that might otherwise be discussed mainly by politicians, economists and public officials.
However, public recognition does not automatically make an individual’s assessment an authoritative measure of national economic performance.
The value of such contributions depends on the quality of the arguments presented and how they stand up against available evidence.
Kosoko’s comments also raise broader questions about the responsibilities of public figures when discussing hardship.
Citizens experience economic conditions differently, and an account based on one person’s observations may not reflect the circumstances of households facing unemployment, low incomes or rising living expenses.
Recognising those differences does not prevent public figures from supporting government policies. It underscores the importance of distinguishing personal opinion from conclusions that can be established through broader evidence.
For policymakers, the challenge is to ensure that economic reforms produce results that citizens can see in their daily lives.
For Nigerians, the debate reinforces the importance of examining policy outcomes, asking questions about public spending and assessing political claims against verifiable information.
What Happens Next?
Kosoko has called on Nigerians to give Tinubu’s administration more time and support the continuation of its policies.
The government, meanwhile, faces the task of demonstrating that its economic reforms can improve living standards while addressing the structural challenges identified by the administration.
Key areas to watch include the cost of essential goods, household purchasing power, employment opportunities, public revenue, infrastructure investment and the implementation of social intervention programmes.
The effectiveness of NELFUND and other support schemes will also depend on whether eligible Nigerians can access assistance and whether the programmes achieve their intended objectives.
As the 2027 election approaches, the administration’s performance is likely to remain a major subject of political debate.
Kosoko’s comments have made his position clear: he believes Tinubu should be allowed to continue his work and deserves another term.
Ultimately, however, the decision will rest with Nigerian voters, whose assessments will be shaped by their experiences, the available evidence and the alternatives presented during the election campaign.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Premium Times — Report on Jide Kosoko’s defence of Tinubu’s administration, October 17, 2026.
- QED.ng — Report on Kosoko’s comments about the administration and economic hardship, October 17, 2026.
- P.M. News — Report on Kosoko’s remarks concerning Tinubu and the NELFUND student loan scheme, October 17, 2026.
