According to a report by Punch on Monday, May 25, 2026, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what he described as worsening hunger and economic hardship affecting millions of Nigerians.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party made his comments in reaction to a warning issued by the United Nations that about 35 million Nigerians could face acute hunger between June and August 2026.
According to him, the projection reflects a serious national challenge that requires urgent attention from the government.
In a statement released in Abuja through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the situation in the country has moved beyond ordinary economic hardship and now represents a humanitarian crisis.
He stated that many households across Nigeria are currently struggling to afford basic necessities due to rising food prices, inflation, and declining purchasing power.
According to him, the economic pressure being experienced by citizens has reached levels that require immediate and coordinated intervention.
Atiku attributed the current economic challenges to what he described as policy failures by the present administration.
He specifically pointed to the removal of fuel subsidy and the management of foreign exchange reforms as key decisions that have contributed to rising costs of living.
According to him, these policies were implemented without sufficient safeguards to protect vulnerable citizens, resulting in increased transportation costs, higher prices of goods, and general economic strain on families across the country.
The former vice president also raised concerns about the growing insecurity in farming communities across several states.
He listed areas such as Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto, and Borno as regions where farmers have been affected by violence and displacement.
He explained that agricultural production has been significantly disrupted in these areas due to banditry, terrorism, and other forms of insecurity, which have forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands.
According to him, the inability of farmers to safely access their farms has contributed to the worsening food crisis in the country.
He noted that agricultural activities form the backbone of food supply in Nigeria, and any disruption in farming communities directly affects food availability and prices in urban and rural markets.
He added that without addressing insecurity in these regions, efforts to improve food production and reduce hunger may not yield meaningful results.
Atiku questioned the sustainability of food production under the current security conditions, stressing that the country cannot achieve food sufficiency if farmers continue to face threats while carrying out agricultural activities.
He explained that the combination of insecurity and economic hardship has placed additional pressure on food systems, making it difficult for many Nigerians to access affordable meals on a daily basis.
He said, “How can a nation feed itself when farmers cannot safely access their farms?.”….Read_More…