Vice President Kashim Shettima said it was  “heartbreaking” that a large number of Nigerians, whom he labelled as “clowns,” appeared to be excited and were even rejoicing over the news of the naira’s decline, which recently saw its value drop to an all-time low of N1520 to a dollar.

During the one-day dialogue on “Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption” on Wednesday, Mr Shettima said he had hoped Nigerians would unite and devise strategies to salvage what’s left of the nation’s currency when the news broke instead of jubilating and gloating across social media.

‘”It is not only disheartening and disenchanting but also heartbreaking that yesterday when the naira culminated to N1,500 to the dollar, instead of us to coagulate into a single force and salvage our nation economy, sadly, some clowns are celebrating on Twitter of an impending implosion of the Nigerian economy,” the vice president said on Wednesday in a video captured by Symfoni.

Mr Shettima said he was hopeful particularly that “by the grace of God, we shall arise from the ashes.”

Mr Shettima directed his remarks to critics of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration who believed the nation’s economy would have fared better under opposition candidates, Peter Obi of the Labour Party or Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The naira has continued to fall helplessly against the dollar and has consequently, sent the prices of goods and services through the roof, leaving citizens to endure the torrid economy.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, on Wednesday, released a new set of guidelines to frustrate banks who are guilty of hoarding and speculation of foreign currency into giving them up.

Still supporters of President Bola Tinubu defended him that he inherited an already collapsing economy from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, and have pleaded with Nigerians to give him more time to nurse the ailing economy to perfect health.

The president is currently on a private visit to France.