Veteran journalist and publisher of Ovation magazine, Dele Momodu, has voiced concern over Nigeria's economic situation, saying the worsening hardship has led to an overwhelming number of people seeking financial assistance.

Speaking during a recent interview, Momodu said the country's economic challenges have reached a point where he now feels reluctant to open messages on his phone because many of them contain requests for financial help.

The economy of Nigeria is so bad that these days I get too scared to even open some messages on my phone because everyone is begging," he said.

Momodu attributed the growing number of appeals for assistance to the rising cost of living and the financial strain experienced by many Nigerians.

He noted that the increasing economic pressure has affected people across different social and professional backgrounds.

The media entrepreneur also expressed concern over the broader impact of the country's economic difficulties, arguing that persistent inflation, unemployment and declining purchasing power have made life increasingly difficult for millions of citizens.

His comments come amid ongoing public debate over the state of Nigeria's economy following the Federal Government's economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market.

While the government maintains that the reforms are necessary to stabilise the economy and attract investment, many Nigerians continue to grapple with higher prices for food, transportation and other essential goods.

Momodu urged the country's leaders to remain responsive to the concerns of citizens and prioritise policies that would ease the burden on households and stimulate economic growth.

His remarks have generated widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians sharing similar experiences of receiving increasing requests for financial assistance from relatives, friends and acquaintances, while others called for patience as the government's reforms take effect.