The Special Assistant to Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, has warned that Nigerians may be at risk of thiamine deficiency if the federal government continues to see the solution to economic hardship from the lens of sharing rice to citizens.
The Public Communications aide to Atiku accused the federal government of being insensitive to the realities of hardship Nigerians face.
Phrank Shaibu regretted that the federal government opted for rice as succour for all economic hardships faced by citizens which were the result of President Bola Tinubu‘s economic policies.
On his X handle, on Monday, Shaibu wrote: “Could it be that every aide of President Bola Tinubu skipped the foundational lessons of primary school? I recall a wise teacher from my early years imparting the simple truth that a diet heavily reliant on white rice can lead to Beriberi—a condition born of vitamin B1 deficiency, also known as thiamine deficiency.
“Yet here we are, witnessing this peculiar madness: No power? Serve rice. No fuel? More rice. Bad governance? A bag of rice. Floods? Rice once again. High electricity tariffs? You guessed it—rice.
“This cycle must end. At the very least, add ‘ewa oloyin’ (honey beans) to the rice to save our people from Beriberi.”