Amaechi: Tinubu’s economic policies made my mother’s medication unaffordable, led to her death

Former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has blamed the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the death of his mother, saying the rising cost of medication made it difficult to care for her.

Amaechi made the claim during an interview while speaking on the economic challenges facing many Nigerian families. He argued that the sharp increase in the prices of medicines and other essential goods had placed many households under severe financial pressure.

According to him, his mother was in good health before the current administration came into office, insisting that her death should not be dismissed as a result of old age alone.

“My mother was healthy!” Amaechi said. He added that after President Tinubu assumed office, buying drugs for her became increasingly difficult because of the high cost of medication.

During the interview, the interviewer suggested that Amaechi’s mother had lived to an old age and asked whether the responsibility of caring for her rested only on him. Responding, the former governor maintained that he did everything within his ability to provide for her healthcare.

Amaechi also said many Nigerians were facing similar difficulties as the rising cost of living continued to make food, medicine and other basic needs less affordable for ordinary citizens.

To support his argument, he cited figures he attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). According to him, Nigeria spent about ₦200 billion on drug imports in the last quarter, while about 40 per cent of finished goods consumed in the country were imported.

The former governor used the figures to argue that the country’s dependence on imports, combined with current economic conditions, had contributed to higher prices of medicines and other essential products.

Since assuming office in May 2023, President Tinubu’s administration has introduced major economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market. While the Federal Government says the reforms are necessary to stabilise the economy and attract investment, critics argue they have increased the cost of living and worsened hardship for many Nigerians.

Amaechi’s comments add to the ongoing national debate over the impact of the Federal Government’s economic policies, particularly on healthcare, household incomes and the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians.