Eminent economist Bismarck Rewane has asserted that the prevalence of individuals with mental health challenges roaming the streets of Lagos State has surged, attributing this rise to the economic adversity imposed by the governance of Bola Tinubu and Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Rewane further observed that the citizens, overwhelmed by dire circumstances, have resorted to risky behaviors, such as crossing roads amidst moving traffic.
In a recent interview on Channels TV, the Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited highlighted that Nigerians exhibit a disinterest in governmental budgetary details unless there is a tangible improvement in the affordability of essential commodities like rice, bread, and garri, emphasizing the disconnect between policy rhetoric and the everyday struggles faced by the populace.
He said, “You will notice that on the streets of Lagos in particular, the number of lunatics has increased and part of it is driven by poverty. Many mental health issues. People are pushed to the wall. Some of them walk across the road even in moving traffic.”
Earlier he had said, “In the end, budgetary arithmetics, budgetary mathematics in economics is of no use to anybody except when by this time, six months’ time, if we are buying rice at N40,000 a bag rather than N60,000 a bag, if we are buying bread N900 a big loaf instead of N1,300 which we are doing today. If we are buying garri at lower prices.
“The people are not interested in whether the budget is balanced and what the debt is. How does it (the budget) affect their day-to-day livelihood? That is the key thing.”
Rewane, analysing the budget proposal, said in the final analysis, the people are not interested in figures but want to feel the impact of the government’s economic policies as many are under pressure.
He added, “And as you know, prices are up and people are under tremendous pressure,” he said, adding that the rate of poverty in the country is driving people mad.”
