Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, in a recent interview on Arise TV, lambasted the administration of President Bola Tinubu, alleging that it has reduced Nigerians to beggars due to the country’s hunger crisis.
He lamented that after 64 years of independence, many Nigerians have been reduced to begging for food, a stark contrast to the country’s potential as a land of plenty.
Yusuf expressed profound sadness over the current state of affairs in Nigeria, 64 years after gaining independence, describing the situation as a national disgrace. He highlighted the stark reality where millions of Nigerians, including women and children, go to bed hungry without assurance of their next meal.
“This should not be happening in the land of plenty,” Yusuf remarked, pointing out the irony of Nigeria’s resource wealth juxtaposed against the backdrop of severe food scarcity and desperation. His comments come in the wake of tragic stampede incidents where people lost their lives in desperate attempts to access food, underscoring the dire hunger situation in the country.
He emphasized that hunger is not just a humanitarian issue but a national security risk, urging government officials to take immediate action by providing food and support to those in need. Yusuf’s remarks reflect a growing frustration among citizens regarding the government’s inability to manage resources effectively and ensure basic needs are met.
The professor’s statements resonate with many who feel abandoned by their leaders, as he pointed out that while politicians live comfortably in Abuja, ordinary Nigerians suffer from extreme poverty and food insecurity.
