President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to remain patient despite the current high cost of living, stating that the country can no longer expect “a free bowl” without addressing its economic challenges.
The President made this remark during a visit by former Nigerian lawmakers to the State House in Abuja on Friday.
He acknowledged the widespread hunger but emphasized that real development requires time, effort, and sacrifice, using the metaphor of “no free beer parlour” to underscore his point.
Tinubu stressed the importance of staying focused on nation-building and restructuring the country’s financial system.
“Look at us. Agriculture is the main thing. People say we are hungry. Yes, I understand that. But we cannot just take a free bowl. We must work hard. We’ve sustained 25 years of democracy this year, and we don’t want to keep the people hungry and angry. But we ask for patience. There is no free beer parlour anymore. We will retool and rebuild our nation with your cooperation,” Tinubu said.
The President also lamented missed opportunities in the past to develop critical infrastructure, education, and other social amenities. According to him, while Nigeria enjoyed periods of economic growth, leadership failed to invest in key sectors, leading to today’s challenges such as infrastructure deficits and dilapidated school facilities.
“This is why we now struggle with economic challenges, high costs of living, and a crisis of out-of-school children,” Tinubu noted. “No one will do it better than us. Having travelled the world and seen developed countries dedicate themselves to collaboration, inclusiveness, and strong financial structures, we know what it takes.
“Yes, there is hardship. But how did we get here? What did we do when we had high production? We neglected our communities, the geese that lay the golden eggs. We forgot to provide even a decent standard of living, or to educate our children. Look at our schools; they are in disrepair. The learning environment must be decent enough for pupils to want to learn. We can continue to complain about low school enrollment, but did we really do anything to encourage educational progress? It’s a matter of conscience,” Tinubu added.
Food inflation remains a major concern in Nigeria, with many citizens struggling to cope with rising prices.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the country’s food inflation rate stands at a staggering 37.52%. Despite the government’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security, prices continue to soar.
Additionally, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has projected that 26.5 million Nigerians could be at risk of hunger by 2024.
