HURIWA Faults Onanuga’s Claim on Hunger, Says Nigerians ‘Cannot Eat Roads’

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised comments by Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissing concerns over widespread hunger in the country, describing the remarks as insensitive and disconnected from the realities facing millions of Nigerians.

In a statement issued on Thursday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the presidential spokesman’s assertion that he does not see the level of hunger being reported across the country was inconsistent with available evidence on food insecurity and economic hardship.

The rights group argued that personal observations could not replace data and assessments by national and international organisations monitoring poverty and hunger trends.

According to HURIWA, the claim that hunger is not widespread because people are seen engaging in commercial activities or because infrastructure projects are ongoing fails to reflect the economic challenges confronting ordinary citizens.

“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,” the group said.

HURIWA pointed to recent reports by international agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), which identified Nigeria as one of the global hotspots where food insecurity is expected to worsen in the coming months.

The association noted that the agencies projected that millions of Nigerians could face severe food shortages between July and September 2026, while millions of internally displaced persons continue to grapple with humanitarian challenges across several parts of the country.

It described the reports as credible assessments based on field research and internationally recognised methodologies, warning against attempts to downplay the severity of the situation.

HURIWA said it was troubling that a senior government official would appear to dismiss concerns that have been acknowledged by humanitarian organisations, development partners and affected communities.

The group challenged Onanuga to undertake an extensive tour of communities affected by economic hardship and insecurity across the country.

It urged him to engage directly with market traders struggling with inflation, pensioners facing rising living costs, displaced families in camps, unemployed youths and farmers dealing with insecurity and increased production expenses.

According to the association, such engagements would provide a clearer understanding of the depth of economic distress facing many households.

While acknowledging ongoing government infrastructure projects and social intervention programmes, HURIWA maintained that such initiatives should not be used as proof that hunger and hardship do not exist.

The group argued that economic performance should be measured by citizens’ ability to meet basic needs, including access to food, healthcare and other essentials.

“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 and whether workers earn enough to live with dignity,” it stated.

HURIWA further urged the Presidency to adopt what it described as a more evidence-based approach to addressing economic challenges.

The association said acknowledging the scale of hardship in the country was a necessary first step towards developing effective solutions.

It called on government officials to prioritise empathy, transparency and practical interventions in responding to the concerns of citizens.

According to the group, governments are often judged not by their ability to deny difficult realities but by their willingness to confront them and provide lasting solutions.