Human rights activist and public commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has raised alarm over what he described as the worsening state of hunger in Nigeria, blaming decades of bad leadership for the country’s dire economic and social condition.

In a statement titled “Visible Hunger in Nigeria vs the Pretenders”, which he shared via his official 𝕏 handle on Monday morning, Shehu said the situation had reached a point where starvation and malnutrition were now widespread realities for millions of citizens.

Shehu argued that there was a clear link between poor governance and the current hunger ravaging the nation.

“There is a direct, indirect, tangential and linear relationship between bad leaders, poor governance and greed with poverty and hunger,” he wrote.

The public commentator added that, “On account of incompetent, shallow minded, greedy and poor leadership style from 1999 to date, millions of Nigerians have been posted into irreversible economic husbandry leading to visible hunger, starvation, malnutrition and death.”

Millions Unable to Feed Daily

The activist lamented that millions of Nigerians, including men, women and children, could no longer afford decent meals daily, while also battling poor hygiene and lack of access to healthcare.

“The onset of hunger in Nigeria is visible, measurable and undeniable such that if the epidemic of hunger finally explodes, Somalia and Sudan’s hunger crisis will be a child’s play,” Shehu warned.

He criticised political leaders and public office holders who continue to deny the extent of the crisis, stressing that their pretence would not save them when the inevitable happens.

“Active politicians along with elected and other public office holders that are pretending away hunger in Nigeria will have themselves to blame when the inevitable happens because it will be a situation better described as: ‘Everybody for himself, God for us all, survival of the fittest and devil take the hindmost’,” he stated.

No Nigerian Should Have To Sleep Hungry

Recently, a Commentator on African Affairs and Digital Governance, Ugo Inyama, observed that hunger in Nigeria is no longer a remote issue.

According to him, hunger has escalated into a national emergency of critical proportions. From displacement camps in Borno to neglected farmlands in Zamfara, from undernourished schoolchildren in Katsina to families in Lagos facing hardship, millions are increasingly struggling to obtain basic nutrition, not due to a lack of food, but because it has become unaffordable for many.

Naijaonpoint understands that as of June 2025, Nigeria’s food inflation rate reached 45.4%, the highest in almost twenty years (National Bureau of Statistics, 2025).

A national household survey indicates that over 63% of families report consuming less than their required intake. This issue spans across various regions and income levels. It is no longer limited to the rural impoverished; even middle-income individuals, civil servants, and small business proprietors are feeling the impact.

The magnitude of the situation necessitates a unified, inclusive national response.

In a piece published in The Tribune, Inyama stressed that addressing food insecurity demands a comprehensive governmental strategy, bolstered by private sector collaborators, civil society, and international partners. However, it must commence with political determination and a definitive commitment to prioritising people, particularly the most vulnerable, in economic planning.

With appropriate interventions, Nigeria has the potential to turn this crisis around. No Nigerian should have to sleep hungry. Not a single one, Inyama cautioned.