- Bayo Onanuga advised Nigerians to return to farming to alleviate hunger
- He said it was not the first time the country was experiencing this type of crisis
- His recommendation generated commotion online as Nigerians expressed their disagreement
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has advised Nigerians to return to farming as a way to alleviate economic hardship and hunger.
Onanuga made the statement earlier this week during a meeting with a group of online editors organised by the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) in Abuja.
Crisis not new to Nigeria - Onanuga
The special adviser noted that things were not going as the President had hoped but guaranteed Nigerians that the fruits of the government's efforts to help the country would be visible within the next 12 months.
He said it’s not the first time the country is experiencing this type of crisis, “In 1976, former President Olusegun Obasanjo introduced ‘Operation Feed the Nation,’ promoting farming.”
He also mentioned, “In 1984, when former President Muhammadu Buhari came in, there were shortages of rice, milk, and sugar, and the government had to open warehouses to make these items available to people.”
“The government is investing in agriculture to make things available and affordable, and as individuals, we also have a role to play,” Bayo Onanuga added.
Nigerians react to Onanuga’s comments
Onanuga’s comments generated commotion on social media, with Nigerians expressing their opinions.
“@anuonuga Global Hardship is understandable. But that of Nigeria is even more understandable because it is made possible by man's inhumanity to man, out of greed, and desire to accumulate primitively. Nigerians have no reason to be poor nor die from opportunistic diseases,.such as malaria and gastroenteritis etc. BUT SURELY & LUCKILY A DAY IS COMIMG,” Mahdi Shehu tweeted on X.
“Sir farmers are afraid of going into the farm, fear or been killed or there farms been destroyed, kindly advise. Thanks for Speaking out always and truthfully,” Izundu added on X.
“Should they return to the farm so your uncontrollable bandits can adopt them, or so you can overtax their farm produce? Almost every Nigerian is responsible for their own security, generating their own power, and sourcing their own water. Many Nigerians handle nearly all the basic necessities that governments in civilized nations provide. Yet, you bunch of hyenas gaslight them, saying they haven’t done enough until they start growing their own food. Doesn’t this expose how truly worthless the government is? Why are you all there? To loot and share money? E ni kure. Awon ole,” NigeriaElectionPolice expressed on X.
“Tinubu making effort to reduce it from buying fuel at 200 to 730 now? Cooking gas was less than 500 b4 but now under tinubu it’s 1300k. A dollar to naira was 650 but today it’s 1450k. What manner of reduction is this @bayoonanuga? Let shame catch u for once in your life naaa,” Obinna Oragudosi also tweeted.
“Trying real hard to twist the narrative won't fly @aonanuga1956. Rather,admit that the failures of Apc govt has brought immense hardship to Nigerians. A country where bandits tax farmers & even at that,farmers are at their mercy. Truth & patriotism is far from this Apc govt,” IfyGod added her opinion on X.
“Foolish talk from a clueless & rudderless government. Tinubu's weird economic policies caused this hardship,” Ekwulu aired his view on X.
“It doesn't exist globally! No country has changed electricity tariff from 62 to 206! NONE! No country changed fuel price from 180 to 800! NONE! Let's not even go to food prices! God punish APC, their enablers and voters,” Josh Jay King expressed on X.
10 states with the highest cost of living in Nigeria
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that inflation is a major concern for Nigerians, and the cost of living varies by state.
According to the report, Lagos, Bayelsa, and Bauchi are among the 10 states with the highest cost of living in the country.