Remi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady, has urged parents to stop discussing ravaging poverty before their children, saying it could have adverse effects on society. 

“Whoever we are, we should stop talking about poverty in front of our children,” Mr Tinubu said. “We are not a poor nation; the wealthy ones should also take care of the poor ones and make them wealthy; that is all it takes,” 

Mrs Tinubu spoke at the State House on Saturday in her Christmas message with children of Nana Berry Orphanage, Abuja.

The former senator further urged citizens to be positive about the coming year, saying everyone should strive to make the country a better place.

“We have taken the issue of poverty out of context, and it is polluting the hearts of the young ones,” Mrs Tinubu said. “But we have to give them hope and a positive life. We are entering a glorious year, and those who believe it will be glorious will enjoy it.” 

Before her husband, President Bola Tinubu, assumed office on May 29, over 130 million Nigerians lived in multidimensional poverty, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics.

Hardships have risen sharply nationwide amid Mr Tinubu’s economic decisions, including fuel and exchange rate policies. Petrol prices rose from less than N200 when Mr Tinubu assumed office to nearly N700 nationwide, while a naira trades for over N1,100 against the United States dollar.

Mr Tinubu had insisted that the current economic hardship was a necessary sacrifice for a better future for the country. 

But the president was criticised for wasting taxpayer’s money sponsoring over 400 persons to the recent Climate Change Conference in Dubai and budgeting N20 billion for “computer software and renovation of residence” of his chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. 

Though experts have lauded Mr Tinubu’s decision to prune federal expenses and liabilities, many citizens have not seen any positive effects of the policy, with historic inflation hitting commodity prices. 

In November, Nigeria’s headline inflation increased to 28.2 per cent, showing a 0.87 per cent increase over the 27.33 per cent recorded in October, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported.