Senator Adams Oshiomhole has defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, dismissing claims that the policies are deepening hardship for ordinary Nigerians and insisting that some citizens are already experiencing relief in food prices.
The former Edo State governor made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television while responding to questions on whether the administration’s promised radical reforms were being implemented at the expense of the average Nigerian.
According to Oshiomhole, the government had been transparent from the beginning about the need for sweeping changes to stabilise the economy. He rejected the suggestion that the reforms were targeted at hurting citizens, arguing instead that many of the criticisms being raised lacked credible evidence.
Questioning the narrative of widespread suffering, Oshiomhole challenged the programme host to identify who exactly qualified as “average persons,” noting that public opinion on the impact of the reforms was far from uniform.
He stressed the reports of hardship were often drawn from selective voices and assumptions rather than verified data.
“There are Nigerians now saying food is becoming too cheap, We must be careful not to generalise based on a few complaints. The reality on the ground is more nuanced than what is often reported,” he said.
Oshiomhole further insisted that claims about the negative impact of the reforms were largely speculative and not supported by concrete facts.
He urged commentators and the media to rely on evidence rather than general impressions when assessing the effects of government policies.
He maintained that while the reforms might be difficult in the short term, they were necessary to put the economy on a more sustainable path, adding that premature judgments could undermine public understanding of the long-term benefits.