The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s economy, describing the situation as severe and unprecedented.
Speaking through labour and human rights activist Auwalu Yakasai (Danmalikin Kano) at the 51st National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in Wudil, Kano State, the Emir highlighted the widespread economic hardship affecting all facets of national life.
He lamented that Nigeria’s economy, along with other essential sectors like education, healthcare, and social welfare, is in steep decline. “Every other sphere of human endeavour in Nigeria is now being battered,” the Emir stated.
“The economy, social life, education and health are all going down. Even the labour movement is under a dwindling fortune.” He also criticized the diminishing influence of labour unions, which he said no longer serve as the strong defenders of workers’ rights they once were.
Sanusi emphasized the impact of rising fuel costs and inflation on ordinary Nigerians, pointing to what he called the worst economic hardship the country has experienced in recent times.
He noted that the labour movement, once known for standing up to oppressive government policies, appears to have lost momentum. “In the past, labour unions were at the forefront of resisting anti-people policies,” he remarked.
The economic concerns raised by the Emir come at a time when many African nations are grappling with currency instability. According to a June 2025 report by Business Insider Africa, citing data from the Forbes currency calculator, several African currencies continue to weaken due to inflation, high import dependency, and unstable macroeconomic conditions. Among the most affected are São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
Nigeria’s own currency remains under pressure, with the naira trading at 1,553.68 to the U.S. dollar as of June 23, 2025. Though modest signs of recovery have emerged through recent policy reforms, the depreciating currency has significantly eroded consumer purchasing power and fueled inflation.
As economic uncertainty persists, voices like the Emir’s amplify growing calls for more urgent and people-focused economic reforms.
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