Nigeria Was Better Under British Rule Than Tinubu’s Government — Kalu

Financial expert Kalu Aja has sparked a heated debate by asserting that Nigeria’s economic climate during the British colonial era of the 1950s was superior to the nation’s current state under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He argued that the foundational strengths of the country, particularly in the agricultural sector, were more robust and productive before Nigeria gained independence in 1960.

Aja shared these views through a series of detailed posts on his official X account on Saturday, where he lamented the steady decline of the nation’s former economic glories.

He specifically pointed to the era when Nigeria was a global leader in the export of cash crops.

According to the analyst, the sectors that once drove Nigeria’s prosperity have suffered significant decay since the colonial masters departed.

He highlighted Nigeria’s previous status as an agricultural powerhouse, noting that in the 1950s, the country was not just focused on local consumption but was a dominant player in the global market.

He pointed out that Nigeria ranked among the top two producers of groundnuts and top three for palm oil and cocoa worldwide.

Reflecting on the current state of the nation, Aja questioned the disappearance of the iconic “groundnut pyramids” and massive palm plantations that once defined the economy.

He bluntly stated that these sectors “prospered because of oyibo” and suggested that the lack of comparable leadership in the post-independence years, including the current administration, has led to a total collapse of these pillars.

“The truth is those sectors prospered because of oyibo; when oyibo left, everything decayed,” he wrote.

These remarks come at a time when many Nigerians are struggling with a severe cost-of-living crisis.

While the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently reported that the headline inflation rate eased to 15.15 percent in December 2025, a significant drop from the 34.80 percent recorded in December 2024. The reality on the ground remains difficult for many households.

However, the government continues to maintain that its fiscal reforms are necessary for long-term recovery, even as analysts like Aja argue that the country has lost its way since the 1960s.

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