Nigerians not as hungry as opposition claims – APC chieftain

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Alwan Hassan, has admitted that Nigeria cannot currently produce enough food to feed its population, defending the Federal Government's reliance on imports to bridge the supply gap.

Hassan said food imports remained necessary while the government worked towards improving local agricultural production, arguing that relying on foreign supplies was preferable to allowing food shortages to persist.
He made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday while responding to the opposition's criticism of the

Tinubu administration's handling of the economy ahead of the 2027 general election.
Asked whether dependence on food imports reflected effective management of the agricultural sector, the APC Presidential Campaign Council member admitted that domestic production was insufficient.

“We cannot feed ourselves. No, but while we do things to now cover up on the gaps, well, in the meantime, we must import,” he said.
Hassan, however, dismissed claims that Nigerians were experiencing severe hunger, accusing opposition politicians of exaggerating the economic hardship for political advantage.

Reacting to the opposition's description of the 2027 election as a contest between President Bola Tinubu and hungry Nigerians, he said the characterisation did not reflect the country's actual situation.
“That is an opposition rhetoric. People are not that hungry,” he said.
When challenged over the persistent complaints about the rising cost of living, Hassan maintained his position, citing his experience of living in the country.

“I'm telling you, I live in Nigeria,” he said.
He further argued that falling food prices in some markets indicated that the Federal Government's policies were beginning to influence the cost of food commodities.

According to him, farmers were also expressing concerns over declining market prices for their produce.
“People are not that hungry the way the opposition are portraying it. And I'll say it anywhere. People are not that hungry,” he said.
“In fact, farmers are complaining because foodstuffs are down in the market. Why? Because this government is importing and reducing the prices.”

His comments come amid continued concerns over food affordability and the rising cost of living, with many Nigerian households struggling to meet basic needs.

The Tinubu administration has introduced several measures to address food shortages and reduce prices, including interventions to increase agricultural production and the importation of food commodities.