Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over its recent distribution of food palliatives across Northern Nigeria, describing the initiative as a politically motivated exercise rather than a meaningful response to the country’s deepening economic crisis.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku accused the government of “weaponising hunger and poverty,” alleging that relief efforts are being deployed as tools for political advantage instead of addressing the structural causes of widespread hardship.
The criticism follows a high-profile intervention led by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, who recently flagged off the distribution of 100 trucks of rice alongside ₦1.2 billion worth of relief materials to states in Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. The initiative was presented by the government as part of ongoing efforts to cushion the effects of economic hardship on vulnerable populations.
However, Atiku’s camp dismissed the exercise as “a calculated political performance staged on the altar of mass suffering,” arguing that it reflects what they described as the normalization of poverty under the current administration. According to the statement, rather than pursuing comprehensive reforms to stabilise the economy and improve livelihoods, the government has resorted to highly visible but ultimately insufficient relief measures.
“What Nigerians are witnessing today is the tragic normalization of poverty,” the statement read. “Families are increasingly unable to afford basic necessities, inflation has eroded incomes, and millions are being pushed into deeper levels of deprivation. Yet, instead of addressing these fundamental challenges, the government is prioritising optics over substance.”
Atiku’s critique centres on the growing gap between government interventions and the lived realities of citizens. He argued that while palliative distributions may provide temporary relief, they fail to address the underlying economic dysfunctions driving inflation, unemployment, and food insecurity.
The former vice president also raised concerns about the state of agricultural production in Northern Nigeria, a region historically regarded as the country’s food basket. He alleged that since 2023, agricultural output has declined significantly due to insecurity and policy missteps, forcing many farmers to abandon their farmlands.
“Vast agricultural zones have been overtaken by insecurity,” the statement noted. “Farmers have been displaced, and supply chains have been severely disrupted. The result is reduced food production and increased dependence on external sources, which further exacerbates inflation.”
According to Atiku, the government’s failure to secure rural communities and support agricultural productivity has had cascading effects on food availability and affordability nationwide. He argued that instead of implementing policies to restore confidence in the agricultural sector, authorities are now attempting to mitigate the consequences through what he described as politically staged relief efforts.
“It is ironic that the same hardship created by policy failures is now being exploited for political gain,” he said. “What the North—and indeed Nigeria—needs is a coherent, sustainable food security strategy, not campaign-style distribution of food items branded for political effect.”
The statement also referenced earlier initiatives involving the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, who had distributed food items in parts of Northern Nigeria during Ramadan in 2025. Atiku’s camp described those efforts as a precursor to what has now become a broader strategy of leveraging humanitarian assistance for political visibility.
“At the time, it appeared to be an isolated effort,” the statement said. “But what we are seeing now suggests that it was merely a test run for a more entrenched approach—one that prioritises public relations over genuine economic recovery.”
Beyond the immediate concerns about palliative distribution, Atiku warned that such practices could have broader implications for Nigeria’s democratic culture. He argued that reliance on periodic handouts risks fostering dependency among citizens, thereby undermining their capacity to make independent political decisions.
“Nigerians are not beggars to be pacified with occasional distributions of food while their livelihoods collapse,” he stated. “This approach reduces citizens to passive recipients of aid rather than active participants in a functioning economy.”
He further cautioned that governance built on short-term relief measures rather than long-term planning could weaken public trust in institutions and erode accountability. According to him, effective governance requires policies that create opportunities, generate employment, and ensure equitable access to resources.
“These are systemic challenges that cannot be resolved with trucks of rice,” Atiku said. “They require bold, well-coordinated, and people-centred economic policies that address the root causes of poverty and inequality.”
The former vice president called on Nigerians to critically evaluate government interventions and demand more substantive solutions to the country’s economic challenges. He urged citizens to reject what he described as “stomach infrastructure politics,” a term often used to describe the use of material inducements to influence political support.
“The time has come for Nigerians to demand governance, not gestures,” he said. “We must insist on policies that guarantee long-term stability, food security, and improved living standards.”
Atiku’s remarks come at a time when the Tinubu administration is implementing a series of economic reforms, including subsidy removal and fiscal restructuring, which have contributed to rising living costs in the short term. While the government maintains that these measures are necessary for long-term economic stability, critics argue that their immediate impact has intensified hardship for ordinary Nigerians.
The debate over the effectiveness and intent of palliative distributions reflects a broader national conversation about the role of government in addressing economic challenges. While some view such interventions as necessary stopgap measures, others, like Atiku, contend that they risk becoming substitutes for more meaningful reforms.
As the country navigates its current economic difficulties, the tension between short-term relief and long-term policy solutions is likely to remain a central issue in public discourse. For many Nigerians, the immediate concern is survival, but the broader question remains how best to achieve sustainable development and shared prosperity.
Atiku concluded his statement by reiterating the need for a shift in governance priorities, emphasizing that true leadership lies in creating systems that empower citizens rather than perpetuating cycles of dependency.
“Relief without reform is not a solution,” he said. “Nigeria deserves leadership that addresses the root causes of its challenges and builds a future where every citizen can thrive.”
