NewStats: 3,262,956 , 8,178,634 topics. Date: Wednesday, 04 June 2025 at 08:22 AM 2t3a4i

THIS present istration has got many things to worry about. Insecurity is one of them. The high cost of living is another. The worst appears to be hunger and extreme poverty, which could trigger unrest with debilitating consequences. The government should act fast to arrest this ugly situation.

Worried by the situation, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria recently warned that the economic reforms initiated by the Bola Tinubu istration have triggered sky-rocketing inflation and pushed more Nigerians into poverty.

The bishops merely reiterated what Nigerians already knew. In the 2022 Global Hunger Index, Nigeria was on the list of the 10 hunger-ravaged countries in the world.

In 2023, it was among the 22 countries classified as hunger hotspots in the world. The situation is worse in the North-East, where over four million people are on the danger list of food insecurity.

The World Bank Food Security Update Report, released in September 2024, noted that the number of people facing acute food shortage in Nigeria increased by 28 per cent in 2023. Also, 82 million Nigerians, or 64 per cent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030, per the UN.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (a UN agency) projects that over 31.1 million Nigerians faced the risk of acute food insecurity during the lean season between June and August 2025.

The Archbishop of Owerri and President of the CBCN, Lucious Ugorji, amplified that scenario in his speech at the opening session of the 2025 First Plenary Meeting of the conference in Abuja.

Quoting the World Bank, which projected that 129 million Nigerians lived below the poverty line, Ugorji added that the 2024 Global Report on Food Crisis listed Nigeria in second place globally in the acute food insecurity index.

Many Nigerians are frustrated, confused and sad. In August 2024, disturbing hunger protests rocked different parts of the country. Some citizens have developed some form of mental illness, while some who cannot bear it have committed suicide.

The Presidency is wont to defend the Federal Government policies despite criticism. On March 14, President Bola Tinubu met with the Catholic bishops in Abuja. He said the reforms were necessary to build a stronger country.

But reforms should have a human face. The sudden removal of the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, and the floating of the naira exchange rate devastated many individuals and companies.

Consequently, the naira has grossly depreciated. The prices of goods and services have quadrupled. Many Nigerians cannot feed. Many companies operate at a loss. Some multinationals have exited Nigeria. Factory closures and job losses ensued.

Rather than lead by example, the political leaders engage in luxury. Last year, the Presidency added another expensive aircraft worth $150 million to the Presidential Air Fleet. The new residence for the Vice-President gulped N21 billion.

of the National Assembly went home soon after their inauguration with sports utility vehicles worth N57.6 billion. The NASS leadership reportedly moves about in a convoy of luxury vehicles that cost the country over N7 billion. About N90 billion was spent to subsidise the 2024 Hajj. This is a shame.

The government must retrace its steps. Agriculture is a priority for many advanced countries because they do not joke about food security. South Africa embraced biotechnology and encouraged its farmers to use genetically engineered seeds, which has improved crop yields.

The Nigerian government should emulate this. It should encourage mechanised all-season farming and lower tariffs to aid the growth of the productive sector.

Tinubu should not just focus on raising revenue, he should also ensure favourable ease of doing business in the country.

Excessive borrowing should stop. The welfare of the people should be paramount in whatever the government does.

Punch Editorial Board

https://punchng.com/warning-on-deepening-poverty/

Tinubu's tough reforms may be hard to swallow, but they're essential for a stronger Nigeria ahead.

Noted

Nlfpmod!

The height of poverty is scary
I no longer enjoy my existence. My existence is now a huge burden to me.
This is no Joke, nairaland, pls don't give deaf ears to my predicament. I call on you all to help me with Funds to get Buy Food stuffs. The starvation is unbearable. Pls. Whenever you are, pls help. I can't begin to narrate everything here, but I can tell you, it's not looking good at all. I'm afraid something terrible may happen to me.

Hungry Yoruba boys told us that Nigeria will be better than UK and Canada when Tinubu becomes president.... now they don't even have food and data to come defend him online .....we warned that Tinubu would be worse than Buhari but tribal and religious sentiments no allow Una use Una heads

Go and check the first two retards to post on this topic, they have no other job other than nairaland

Kid got nothing to eat while the politicians we voted do not care . They only care about themselves and their luxurious life while we wallow in abject poverty.

Who do I turn to for help?

This government is extremely terrible

Bruh .. this shit is scary . Every shop you go , you see people begging you to buy oil , pepper , Maggi etc for them to use cook . What about family , friends and acquaintances , that's a story for another day . A SOE need to be declared on hunger/poverty because if the South is like this I wonder how the north would be .

Very terrible government to be very honest

Heli. nus , Where are U... Come and Say Something ooo

Truth arena , Salewa..

U love baba Druggie we know but would the love for just one man make You people remain heartless to millions of Nigerians .

The worst government ever!

Tilumbu is worst Dan COVID-19

Out of hatred for the cockroach, the ant voted for INSECTICIDE,, and they all DIED, including the housefly that didnt vote.

Terrible T pain

We've already woken up to that reality.

That's yesterday's news...

Corden and Neary (1982) have demonstrated how Dutch disease occurs in an economy. According to them, in a country experiencing "boom" in the export of a commodity, the economy can be divided into three sectors: the "booming" export sector, the "lagging' traditional export sector and the non-export sector. [b]The Dutch disease occurs when the traditional export (tradable goods) sector is crowded out by the booming export sector and the non-tradable goods sector. The lagging traditional tradable goods sector may include cocoa, palm produce, cotton, rubber, coal, copper, textiles and some manufactured goods while the booming export sector may be crude oil, coffee, gold, etc. The non-tradable (non-export) goods sector covers all those goods that are produced for domestic consumption only, e.g. staple food items, clothing, building materials, locally-assembled cars. Where crude oil (and gas) is the booming export sector, the non-oil export sector may be crowded out by the oil sector and the non-tradable goods sector of the economy. [b]This can happen when the oil revenue windfall increases domestic demand for non-tradable goods and pushes up domestic prices leading to an appreciation of the real exchange rate which in turn reduces the competitiveness of the non-oil export sector. This will in turn lead to a reduction in non-oil exports in both quantum and value . The oil windfall may also lead to movement of the factors of production in the economy. For instance, capital and labor (and land) may shift from the non-oil export sector to the oil sector (in order to maintain or increase reserves and production) and the non-tradable goods sector (to take advantage of the growing domestic demand). This explains why the increase in oil prices and the subsequent oil revenue windfall in many oil-exporting countries have tended to depress their non-oil export sector while at the same time generating a boom in both the oil and the non-tradable goods sectors. With capital and labor shifting from the non-oil export sector to the oil-sector and non-traded goods sector, firms in the non-oil export sector are forced to either close down or reduce their scale of operation. The boom in the oil and non-traded goods sector increases the demand for imported goods. This may not be a problem in the short-term so long as the country has enough foreign exchange to pay for the imports. The depression in the non-oil export sector and the boom in the other two sectors have medium to long term implications for the economy because the oil windfall will not be permanent given the volatility, unpredictability and exhaustibility of crude oil. For instance, if there is a decline in oil prices and oil revenue, the lagging and collapsing non-oil export sector will not be able to compensate for the drop in oil revenue while domestic demand for the non-traded goods and imports remain sticky. Consequently, the country will be forced to borrow from the international financial market to compensate for the decline in oil revenue. Over time, external debts will increase and so will the debt service obligations. Even when oil prices go up later and there is another round of oil windfall, it is difficult to correct the earlier damage or distortions created by the initial or previous oil windfall. In some cases, the oil exporting country may be forced to adopt some form of structural adjustment program (SAP) to correct such distortions or imbalances. Some of these SAPs are painful and may increase the prevalence, depth and severity of poverty[/b][/b].

In an extreme case, the Dutch Disease can lead to "Immiserising Growth" syndrome - a situation where increase in the output of exported commodity by a country leads to a deterioration of the country's welfare (Bhagwati, 1958). This happens when the effect of export-led growth on a country's of trade is strong enough to more than offset the direct benefits of growth. It is an extreme case of self-defeating growth. Although the theory of Immiserising Growth was not originally developed for oil-exporting countries, its tenets apply to many oil-exporting countries in the sense that despite the substantial increase in their export revenue, they have suffered significant decline in general welfare due largely to mismanagement of their oil revenue. T[b]hus, the Dutch Disease syndrome confirms the assertion by a Spanish writer in the 16th Century that "the gratification of wealth is not found in mere possession or in lavish expenditure but in its wise application". Although the main manifestation of the Dutch disease syndrome in an oil exporting country is the decline or depression in the non-oil export sector, other "collateral" manifestations include appreciation of the real exchange rate at the onset, increase in corruption, increase in external debt and increase in poverty[/b]. However, an oil-exporting country must not suffer from the Dutch Disease. Furthermore, not all oil-exporting countries suffering from the disease have all "collateral" manifestations at the same time. Country experiences vary considerably depending on their political economy

SAUCE

Helinues and his crew said the president is the best performing in Africa.

I felt he was on drugs when he made that comment.

Poverty is the grand plan of apc to remain in government

So that when election reach they can induce and entice voters with money to buy votes

It remains for the people to emancipate themselves and resist their bait

But unfortunately most nigerians voters are moved by their belly

Makamatic:
Bruh .. this shit is scary . Every shop you go , you see people begging you to buy oil , pepper , Maggi etc for them to use cook . What about family , friends and acquaintances , that's a story for another day . A SOE need to be declared on hunger/poverty because if the South is like this I wonder how the north would be .

My brother you are right.
And they are mostly mothers.

This Punch Newspaper is now feeling the heat.

During campaigns they deleted all posts and online news that exposed TINUBUs corrupt and drug infested life.

They acted on tribalism and ed a failure, just to score foolish points, claiming that TINUBU will reform NIGERIA.

Same Tinubu is making them write editorials filled with tears.

Una must collect..e sure DIE

Nonsense

Kidspirit:
Kid got nothing to eat while the politicians we voted do not care . They only care about themselves and their luxurious life while we wallow in abject poverty.

Who do I turn to for help?

Start learning about ive income and how to earn it!

Shege Banza promax loading

Andrecole:
The height of poverty is scary
I no longer enjoy my existence. My existence is now a huge burden to me.
This is no Joke, nairaland, pls don't give deaf ears to my predicament. I call on you all to help me with Funds to get Buy Food stuffs. The starvation is unbearable. Pls. Whenever you are, pls help. I can't begin to narrate everything here, but I can tell you, it's not looking good at all. I'm afraid something terrible may happen to me.

I thought I was the only one observing this trend.

The other day it was an elderly woman who approached me to buy her a loaf of sliced bread or a paint of Garri to feed herself and Children.

The other week it was another woman.

It is crazy the level of poverty and some people still defend corrupt government men like ours. Goes to show the dead sense of judgment they have got and how Satan was able to deceive some angels in rebellion against God.

Goes to show you that some people are not fit to be humans.

Nigeria has been projected to be the Poverty Capital of the world by the year 2030!

Peer-to-peer, horizontal economic model is a way out!

The Establishment and established vertical economic model is rigged against the poor and middle class in favour of the rich and super rich....

The man no send una if u die die, many has already died and more would follow he is going to win again in 2027, more 4 years of shege for cursed citizens that can’t look beyond tribalism and religion, imagine if it was Peter obi as president and the situation is this? Hahahaha

Well said Punch editorial.. Well done

Posterity will your always speaking truth to power. I how you consistently pressed General Buhari’s neck for years when they made irrespónsibility, corruption, impunity, nepotism and disrespect for the rule of law their trademark..

You have summed up the trauma an average Nigerian currently faces. Savings have dried up for the middle class. The lower class just managing to get by. It's scary indeed.

One thing I have discovered over time.. those in power can't see it. But it's good that entities like you continue to sound this warnings. If not for anything, at least for the records.

You won't understand how people are suffering until you go to the market or a public place.

emmanuel596:
Hungry Yoruba boys told us that Nigeria will be better than UK and Canada when Tinubu becomes president.... now they don't even have food and data to come defend him online .....we warned that Tinubu would be worse than Buhari but tribal and religious sentiments no allow Una use Una heads

The exact same thing hungry Igbo boys told us during GEJ. It's all a cycle.

Absolutely SPOT ON piece💯💯💯💯💯👍👍👍
The damned, doomed, self serving dingBAT modus operandi is # IMPOVERISH AND RULE😏
But then, one go be one day1️⃣😎

Useless govt of self serving THIEVES AND BLOODTHIRSTY TERRORISTS 🙄

Tinubunation has brought so much hunger to the nation. There is so much poverty, like never before. Transportation is huge now. Few people that are working are purely doing it to feed, no saving.