By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has faulted remarks by the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissing widespread claims of hunger in the country, insisting that millions of Nigerians are battling an escalating food crisis.

The position was contained in a statement by HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, who described Onanuga’s comments as “one of the most disturbing examples of official detachment from the daily realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.”

The rights group argued that the presidential aide’s position was inconsistent with available local and international evidence on food insecurity.

“For a senior presidential spokesman to dismiss widespread complaints of hunger because he observed people engaging in commercial activities or because he travelled on newly constructed roads is both logically flawed and insensitive to the suffering of millions of citizens struggling to survive the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades,” Onwubiko said.

He added: “Nigerians cannot eat roads. They cannot feed their families with official optimism. They cannot survive on government public relations narratives while food prices continue to soar beyond the reach of ordinary households.”

HURIWA said Onanuga’s remarks contradicted findings by international humanitarian organisations on Nigeria’s food security situation.

“Mr. Onanuga’s comments stand in direct contradiction to the findings of respected international agencies,” the statement said.

It cited recent assessments by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), which reportedly classified Nigeria among 13 global hunger hotspots where acute food insecurity is expected to worsen between June and November 2026.

The association further noted that the WFP had warned that about 34.8 million Nigerians could face crisis-level or worse food insecurity between July and September 2026, while more than 3.6 million internally displaced persons remain affected across parts of the North-East, North-West and North-Central.

“These are not opposition figures speaking. These are not social media commentators. These are globally respected humanitarian institutions whose assessments are based on rigorous field research, data collection and internationally recognised methodologies,” Onwubiko stated.

HURIWA challenged the presidential spokesman to personally assess living conditions across affected communities instead of relying on official briefings.

“Let him travel through communities in Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Benue and Borno States. Let him engage market women whose capital has been wiped out by inflation. Let him speak with pensioners choosing between food and medication,” the group said.

It also urged Onanuga to visit internally displaced persons’ camps, hospitals treating malnutrition cases, struggling farmers, artisans, transport workers and unemployed youths.

“Only then can he begin to appreciate the depth of the economic distress facing millions of Nigerians,” Onwubiko said.

While acknowledging ongoing infrastructure projects and social intervention programmes by the Federal Government, HURIWA maintained that such initiatives should not be used to dismiss the hardship being experienced by citizens.

“We acknowledge ongoing infrastructure projects and social intervention initiatives. However, isolated development projects cannot be used to invalidate overwhelming evidence pointing to widespread hardship and food insecurity,” the statement said.

According to the association, the true measure of economic performance should be the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

“The true measure of economic success is not the number of roads commissioned but whether citizens can afford three meals a day, whether parents can provide for their children, whether workers earn enough to live with dignity and whether vulnerable populations are protected from hunger and deprivation,” Onwubiko said.

The group urged the Presidency to confront the food crisis with sincerity rather than dismiss public concerns

“A government that wishes to solve a problem must first acknowledge its existence. Denying or minimising the suffering of citizens does not make that suffering disappear,” the HURIWA coordinator stated.

He added that, “Nigeria’s hunger crisis requires urgent, honest and coordinated action, not rhetorical attempts to explain away the lived experiences of millions of struggling citizens.”

Onwubiko further said: “History has shown that governments are strongest not when they deny uncomfortable realities, but when they confront them with courage, sincerity and practical solutions.”