The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Obidient Movement have accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of grave insensitivity, following comments by Presidential Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, that he does not see the level of hunger and hardship being reported across the country.

However, the Federal Government said the country’s agricultural transformation would require far more capital than it alone could provide.

ADC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, asserted that Onanuga’s views reflected the dominant thinking in the Tinubu-led government, which he said confirmed its long-standing position that the administration “is disconnected from the reality” in the country.

The statement reads: “ADC has condemned recent comments by Onanuga, claiming that he does not see the level of hunger and hardship Nigerians are talking about. Those comments are not merely insensitive; they are a startling admission of how disconnected the APC government has become from the realities of the people it governs. When over 80 per cent of Nigerians are struggling to feed their families, pay school fees, afford transportation and keep their businesses alive, it is extraordinary that a senior presidential spokesman could publicly suggest that the hardship is somehow overstated or even contrived.

“The truth is that Nigerians are not faking their suffering. The unprecedented cost-of-living crisis confronting the country today is the direct result of the ill-conceived and poorly executed economic policies of the Tinubu administration, which have thrown millions more into acute poverty since this government came to power. Food prices have soared, transportation costs have multiplied, the value of incomes and savings has been eroded, and millions of Nigerians who were managing before are now trapped in economic distress. This is not opposition propaganda; it is the daily lived experience of ordinary Nigerians in every state of the federation.”

According to the party, what makes Onanuga’s comments particularly troubling is that they reveal a government that has become tragically insular and could no longer do anything differently.

A sensible government, he added, does not measure the effect of its policies by merely looking at the people within its immediate circle or driving through paved roads.

THE Obidient Movement, in a statement yesterday, also described the remarks as insensitive and reflective of “a growing disconnect” between government officials and the harsh realities confronting ordinary citizens across the country.

The criticism followed Onanuga’s appearance on Arise Television, where he reportedly stated that he did not observe the widespread hunger being reported by many Nigerians.

The Movement said the comment amounted to a dismissal of the daily struggles of millions of citizens battling rising food prices, shrinking incomes and worsening economic conditions.

According to the group believed to be peopled by disciples of Peter Obi and his ideas, many households are finding it increasingly difficult to afford necessities, while businesses continue to grapple with high operating costs, exchange rate volatility and declining consumer spending.

It argued that the country’s economic situation deteriorated significantly over the years, pointing to the sharp depreciation of the naira and the rising cost of essential commodities as indicators of deepening hardship.

THE government emphasised the need to encourage private sector investment in Nigeria’s agriculture domain, through a blended finance framework aimed at mitigating risks associated with agribusiness investments.

Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund, Mohammed Ibrahim, told newsmen: “Agriculture is fundamental to Nigeria’s food security, job creation, industrial development, export capabilities and overall prosperity.

“Relying solely on public capital will not suffice to finance the transformation of Nigeria’s agriculture sector. Similarly, private capital will not be mobilised at the necessary scale unless the associated risks are comprehensively understood, appropriately allocated, and effectively managed.”

Ibrahim noted that discussions with stakeholders in 2025 highlighted that, although there were substantial pools of capital available within the financial system, including development finance and concessional funding, the actual investment in agribusiness remained constrained due to issues related to risk assessment, investment structuring, and alignment with agricultural value chains.

He stated that the government’s long-term objective was to create a structured marketplace where capital providers, agribusiness operators, technical experts, and risk-sharing institutions can collaborate more efficiently.