Paul Ibe, the Special Adviser on Media to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s current economic situation, revealing how deep the nation’s hardship has bitten into the lives of ordinary citizens.
According to him, the level of economic deterioration has become so severe that even some of the country’s largest retail stores once symbols of Nigeria’s growing consumer culture now stand nearly empty.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Saturday, October 4, 2025, Ibe shared a striking personal experience that, in his view, reflects the depth of the crisis confronting millions of Nigerians.
“I was in one of the biggest outlets of the Shoprite group,” he said. “I was there for five minutes and saw less than six people, half a dozen at most. The shelves are thinning out. Things are gradually becoming empty.”
The media aide said the silent emptiness of the once-vibrant store was a powerful metaphor for the shrinking purchasing power of Nigerians. According to him, soaring prices, a plunging naira, and stagnant wages have combined to crush consumer confidence, leaving businesses struggling and families unable to afford even basic necessities.
“It shows how bad things have become,” Ibe lamented. “The economy is strangulating ordinary Nigerians.”
He dismissed the government’s claims of economic growth and stability as “sexed-up figures” that fail to reflect the harsh realities on the ground. “While government officials speak of reforms and recovery,” Ibe argued, “the average Nigerian is facing hunger, despair, and a relentless rise in the cost of living.”
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