Veteran journalist and publisher of Ovation International, Dele Momodu, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over worsening economic hardship and insecurity, saying the administration has failed to demonstrate sufficient concern for the suffering of Nigerians.

Momodu made the remarks during an interview with journalist Rufai Oseni on Nevon Media, a clip of which was shared on Instagram on Wednesday.

He said the level of hardship in the country has become so severe that he now hesitates to open messages on his phone because of the increasing number of people seeking financial assistance.

“These days, even for me to open some messages on my phone, I’m scared because everyone is begging. The suffering of the people,” he said.

Reflecting on his age and experience, Momodu, who said he is 66 and approaching 67, noted that he has witnessed several difficult periods in Nigeria’s history but believes the current situation is unprecedented.

“I’m old enough to know and understand the challenges we’ve encountered in Nigeria before now. Nothing can equal this,” he said.

The media entrepreneur also faulted the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, describing the situation as the worst he has experienced and accusing the administration of repeatedly offering assurances without showing genuine concern.

“Insecurity has never been this bad. And I’m not seeing any sense of remorse or atonement. Everything is, ‘we are doing something about it, we are doing something about it,’” he said.

Momodu further criticised the President’s communication style, arguing that regular engagement with citizens is essential for effective governance.

According to him, if he were president, he would prioritise addressing Nigerians frequently and cited Donald Trump as an example of a leader who regularly communicates with the public through press conferences.

“If I was the president of Nigeria, information is power. You must inform the citizenry every day,” he said.