Amaechi Links Mother’s Death to Rising Cost of Medicines Under Tinubu

Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has criticised the economic situation in Nigeria, saying the rising cost of medicines made it increasingly difficult for him to provide healthcare for his late mother.

Amaechi made the remarks during an interview while discussing the impact of the country’s economic difficulties on families and access to essential healthcare.

The former governor said his mother was in good health before President Bola Tinubu assumed office and rejected the suggestion that her death could simply be explained by her age.

“My mother was healthy!” Amaechi said during the interview, explaining that he had made efforts to ensure she received the care she needed.

He said the increasing price of medication became a significant challenge in providing that care, linking the difficulty to the broader rise in the cost of living under the current administration.

Amaechi’s mother, Mary Amaechi, died in July 2026 at the age of 89. Her family described her as a respected community and Christian leader. 

Using his personal experience to illustrate the wider economic situation, Amaechi argued that many Nigerian families are facing similar difficulties in paying for medicines and other basic healthcare needs.

He also questioned Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported pharmaceutical and other finished products, citing figures he attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics.

According to Amaechi, Nigeria spent about ₦200 billion importing drugs in the last quarter, while 40 per cent of finished goods were imported.

The figures could not be independently established from the NBS material located for this report, and are therefore presented as figures cited by Amaechi.

The issue of medicine affordability has remained part of Nigeria’s wider cost-of-living debate. Previous reporting has documented substantial increases in the prices of several commonly used medicines, while the Federal Government has introduced measures aimed at encouraging local pharmaceutical production and reducing dependence on imported healthcare products. 

The Federal Government has also said its healthcare reforms include efforts to expand local manufacturing and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported medicines, diagnostics and medical devices. 

Amaechi’s comments therefore place his personal experience with his mother’s healthcare within his broader criticism of the economic direction of the Tinubu administration.