The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Friday urged President Bola Tinubu to tackle the growing hardship in Nigeria, warning that tougher times are ahead.

Primate Ayodele predicted that petrol prices, currently reduced to N945 per litre, could climb back to N1,200 per litre if immediate action isn’t taken to address the economic challenges.

He highlighted the rising cost of essential commodities, stressing the need for sustainable solutions. According to a statement by his media aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Primate Ayodele recommended measures such as reopening borders and boosting agricultural production.

He stated: “Nigerians should not be misled; economic hardship will persist this year because the government has failed to act effectively. For example, our borders remain closed, making things more difficult. Let’s face the reality.

“Petrol prices will drop eventually, but not anytime soon. In the meantime, expect petrol to cost N1,200 soon. Local rice will be sold for N100,000, and imported rice for N140,000. Prices of other staples like yam, beans, and vegetable oil will continue to soar. Even spiritual items like anointing oil will become too expensive for Christians.”

Primate Ayodele also criticized the rice palliatives distributed through political channels, arguing that they fail to address poverty or ease the burden on Nigerians.

He said: “The rice palliatives only encourage corruption and do nothing to reduce hardship; instead, they worsen it. Hardship isn’t divinely imposed but is caused by those in power. I foresee the hunger crisis deepening, with challenges affecting every sector.

“If care isn’t taken, there’s a risk of public outrage, possibly escalating to people stoning government officials. Committees should be set up to combat these issues across all sectors before it becomes unmanageable,” he concluded.