Veteran Nollywood actor, Jide Kosoko, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the country’s economic situation is not as bad as some Nigerians have portrayed it.

Kosoko, who acknowledged the hardship facing citizens, urged Nigerians to give the President and his team more time to deliver on their promises.

The actor spoke during an interview on the Talktob Podcast, hosted by Biola Adebayo and published on Saturday.

Reacting to complaints about hunger and the rising cost of food, Kosoko questioned the economic circumstances of some Nigerians before Tinubu assumed office, arguing that people’s fortunes could change over time.

The actor maintained that the situation was not as gloomy as some people had suggested, noting that Nigerians continued to make money through different means.

Kosoko, however, acknowledged that many Nigerians were experiencing hardship, stressing that he was not suggesting that the country’s economic situation was comfortable.

He appealed to Nigerians to allow Tinubu and his administration to complete the programmes and policies they had initiated.

The veteran actor also defended the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy was necessary to prevent further economic difficulties.

He likened the subsidy arrangement to borrowing money without a clear plan for repayment, warning that maintaining it could create bigger problems for the country in the future.

Kosoko added that the money spent on the subsidy could have been saved for other essential needs, including school fees.

He also argued that the student loan scheme had taken over some of the financial responsibilities previously borne by parents.

Kosoko also criticised the tendency of traders and sellers to increase prices whenever the cost of goods rose elsewhere, urging Nigerians to examine their own contributions to the country’s economic challenges.

“We are enemies of ourselves because when they continue to say, ‘Ah, the price is up,’ then who is hiking it? Who is putting it up? Is it not ourselves?” he asked.

While condemning destructive protests, the actor acknowledged the importance of criticism in helping the government identify areas where citizens were experiencing difficulties.

He also ruled out plans to relocate abroad, popularly described as japa, insisting that his family ties and responsibilities remained important considerations.

“Even if I am able to japa, don’t I have families, relatives still at home?” he said.Kosoko urged Nigerians to remain optimistic about the country, describing Nigeria as a great nation.