THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has faulted remarks by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, over the state of hunger in the country, insisting that millions of Nigerians are grappling with a worsening food crisis.

The group said claims that the level of hunger being reported by citizens is not evident contradict available data from international organisations and the lived experiences of many Nigerians.

In a statement issued yesterday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the comments as insensitive and disconnected from the realities confronting households across the country.

The association argued that personal observations of commercial activities or ongoing infrastructure projects could not be used to measure the level of hardship facing citizens.

According to HURIWA, soaring food prices, inflation and declining purchasing power have pushed many families into severe economic distress.

“For a senior presidential spokesman to dismiss widespread complaints of hunger because he observed people engaging in commercial activities or because he travelled on newly constructed roads is both logically flawed and insensitive to the suffering of millions of citizens struggling to survive the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades,” the statement said.

The group maintained that infrastructure development, while important, does not automatically translate into food security for struggling households.

“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,” HURIWA added.

The association cited recent assessments by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), which reportedly identified Nigeria among countries facing a worsening food insecurity situation.

According to HURIWA, the reports projected that millions of Nigerians could face acute food insecurity in the coming months, while millions of internally displaced persons continue to depend on humanitarian assistance.

It noted that the findings were based on extensive field assessments and data-driven research rather than anecdotal observations.

HURIWA said it was troubling that concerns raised by international agencies, humanitarian organisations and affected communities could be dismissed at a time many Nigerians were struggling to afford basic necessities.

The group challenged Onanuga to undertake a comprehensive tour of communities affected by economic hardship across different parts of the country.

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

According to the association, such engagements would provide a clearer picture of the economic challenges confronting ordinary citizens.

HURIWA, however, acknowledged that the government had initiated infrastructure projects and social intervention programmes in different sectors. It stressed, nonetheless, that the existence of such projects should not be interpreted as evidence that hunger and hardship do not exist.

“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, whether workers earn enough to live with dignity and whether vulnerable populations are protected from hunger and deprivation,” the statement said.

The rights group urged the Presidency to adopt a more evidence-based approach in assessing the country’s socio-economic conditions.

It also called for urgent and coordinated measures to tackle food insecurity and rising living costs, warning that denying the scale of hardship would not make the problem disappear.

HURIWA said governments are often judged by their willingness to confront difficult realities and implement practical solutions rather than dismiss concerns raised by citizens.