Hardship: ‘It’s national disgrace’ — Obi reacts as Nigeria receives grains from war-torn Ukraine

The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has said it is “disheartening” and a national disgrace that war-torn Ukraine is donating food to Nigeria.

Mr Obi stated this on his official handle on X, on Monday.

He also commended the Ukrainian government for supporting Nigeria in this hardship.

In his words, he said “It is disheartening that our once economically confident nation, blessed with vast arable land and abundant natural resources, now relies on a war-torn Ukraine for food assistance.

“This national disgrace stems from years of leadership failure, necessitating urgent reflection and a reordering of our national priorities and resource management and allocation.” 

Recall that last week, Ukraine donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat as emergency food assistance to 1.3 million vulnerable, crisis-affected people in northeast Nigeria amidst rising inflation and food price spikes.

Mr Obi however advised that Nigeria “must aggressively reorder our priorities by investing resources in productive sectors like agriculture.” 

The former Anambra governor said, “Addressing insecurity is crucial for farmers to return to their fields, enabling a productive manufacturing sector and supporting small businesses.”

As a result of inflation, food prices have spiked to an unbearable level, forcing Nigerians to protest in Niger, Kano, Osun, Ibadan and Lagos, calling on the government to alleviate their sufferings. 

On Sunday, some Abuja residents raided a government-owned warehouse, looting food and other items. Similarly, a truck conveying foodstuff had been stopped and looted in Suleja, Niger and Zaria in Kaduna before the Sunday incident.

The rising cost of living predated the government of President BolaTinubu. It took a frightening dimension after he assumed office last year, announcing fuel subsidy removal and floating of the naira, which has seen petrol prices jump from N145 to N630, with food prices shooting up astronomically. 

Mr Tinubu, in response to public outcry on the rising cost of food driven by skyrocketing inflation in the country, had directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to release about 42,000 metric tonnes of grain, including maize, millet and garri.

He also charged National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, the State Security Service and Nigerian police with going after food hoarders. 

The Nigeria Customs Service had also commenced the distribution of confiscated food items to Nigerians to ease hunger in the country until a stampede during the process killed six in Lagos, causing them to stop the distribution.