Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Paul Adefarasin, has stirred widespread reactions after declaring that Nigeria is “dead and rotten” amid the country’s worsening economic crisis and continued depreciation of the naira.
The popular cleric made the controversial statement during a sermon delivered to his congregation on May 17, where he lamented the declining value of the Nigerian currency and the country’s economic direction.
According to Adefarasin, anyone still measuring wealth primarily in naira has become poor due to the severe collapse in the currency’s value over the years.
“Nigeria is dead, let’s not deceive ourselves. Once you are counting in naira, you are poor, the preacher said while addressing worshippers.
The clergyman compared Nigeria’s economic situation today with what he described as the country’s stronger financial position decades ago.
He recalled that his father earned about N18,000 salary in the 1970s and 1980s, noting that the amount had significant value at the time.
Adefarasin argued that billions of naira today no longer hold the same global economic strength they once represented because of inflation and the weakening exchange rate.
He stated that Nigeria’s leaders have failed to think long-term, accusing the system of neglecting research, data analysis and critical thinking needed for sustainable national development.
According to him, the country’s educational and policy structures no longer encourage strategic planning for the future.
We are not doing the critical thinking, so we have no combatant against our subconscious foolishness, he added.
The viral sermon clip has since generated heated debate on social media, with Nigerians expressing mixed reactions to the pastor’s comments.
While some people agreed with his concerns about inflation, poverty and the declining value of the naira, others criticised him for what they described as an overly harsh assessment of the country.
Several social media users also accused religious leaders of remaining silent for years while economic hardship worsened across Nigeria.
Others defended the pastor, insisting that his comments reflected the frustration many Nigerians currently feel over rising living costs, unemployment and economic uncertainty.
Nigeria has faced persistent economic challenges in recent years, including high inflation, fuel price increases, foreign exchange instability and rising food costs affecting millions of households nationwide.
Economic analysts say the continued depreciation of the naira against major foreign currencies has significantly reduced purchasing power and increased pressure on businesses and consumers.
Pastor Paul Adefarasin remains one of Nigeria’s most influential televangelists and religious leaders, with a large following across Africa and beyond.
