Victor Ezeja
Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has said President Bola Tinubu is not doing much to squarely address food crisis in the country, adding that Nigerians are getting angry over the unprecedented economic hardship they are grappling with.
According to a report, Ndume, who spoke to newsmen at the National Assembly complex on Wednesday, said the president needs to do more in tackling the food crisis in the country.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Chief Whip of the Senate alleged that access to the Nigerian leader has been blocked, making him to be out of touch with reality outside the Aso Villa.
“The government is not doing anything about the food scarcity and it needs to do something urgently. We don’t have food reserve. There is unavailability of food. Food crisis is the worst crisis that any nation can encounter. If we add that to security crisis, it will be severe,” Senator Ndume stated.
“The President should wake up, it seems he isn’t in the picture of what is happening because he has been caged off. He has been fenced off by plutocrats. He should open his doors and meet those who will tell him the truth.
“Unfortunately, the people who will tell him the truth won’t struggle to meet him. I am very worried not only for the President himself but myself.”
In an interview earlier, Ndume expressed concern over cost of living crisis, especially food scarcity across the country.
READ ALSO: Why Nigeria’s Food Crisis May Last Longer
He said the major challenge is that the president has become inaccessible, adding that even some ministers are unable to meet him and discuss challenges in their constituencies.
“The major problem with this government is that its doors are closed, to the extent that even some ministers cannot see the President, not to mention members of the National Assembly, who do not have the opportunity to meet with him and discuss the issues affecting their constituencies,” Ndume stated.
The chief whip and his colleague, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, sponsored a motion to address the food crisis in the country.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Creates Ministry Of Livestock Development
Speaking on the motion, Ndume explained that the purpose was to draw the government’s attention to the gravity of the food crisis impacting many Nigerians.
They observed that the World Food Programme has warned that 82 million Nigerians will face food insecurity over the next five years.
“We want to draw the government’s attention to the fact that Nigeria is not only facing a high cost of living but also food scarcity.
“We want the President to intervene in the issue of high cost of living and food scarcity,” Ndume stated.
He warned that hunger and malnutrition, particularly among children, may result from the current circumstances if the government does not act quickly.
The lawmaker cited cases of what is happening in Niger Republic and South Sudan, where children are dying because of hunger, adding “we are starting to see it in Nigeria.”
He called on the government to meet with experts and other stakeholders to find a solution to the problem.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
