Human rights activist and social critic, Mahdi Shehu, has raised a serious alarm over the worsening hunger situation in Nigeria, warning that the crisis is now “visible, measurable, and undeniable.”
In a strongly worded message shared on his verified social media platform (X), the Kaduna-based activist blamed successive Nigerian governments, especially since 1999, for pushing millions of citizens into poverty, starvation, and malnutrition. According to him, greed, dishonesty, and incompetence among the ruling class are the main reasons for the deepening hunger across the country.
Shehu, who is known for his fearless criticism of government policies and public officials, said the level of hunger being experienced by Nigerians today has reached dangerous levels and could lead to national chaos if not addressed urgently.
In his post, Mahdi Shehu did not mince words. “The onset of hunger in Nigeria is visible, measurable and undeniable,” he said, stressing that the crisis has become widespread and can no longer be hidden or denied.
He painted a grim picture of the current situation, saying that millions of Nigerians including children, women, and men—cannot feed properly anymore. Many, he added, also lack access to healthcare and basic hygiene.
“Hunger has taken over homes, streets, and communities. It is not just about food anymore. It is also about the collapse of dignity, safety, and the right to live decently,” he said.
Shehu warned that if the hunger crisis explodes further, “Somalia and Sudan’s hunger situations will look like child’s play compared to what Nigeria could face.”
Shehu linked the rising hunger to what he described as “a long history of lies, deception, and cheating by Nigeria’s leaders.”
“There is a direct, indirect, tangential, and linear relationship between telling lies, deception, and cheating. Whoever lies will cheat. Whoever cheats will lie and deceive,” he said.
He argued that since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, the country has been ruled by leaders who are more interested in enriching themselves than serving the people. As a result, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow, and more Nigerians are falling into extreme poverty.
“Governance in Nigeria has become a business venture for politicians. They see public office as an opportunity to loot, not to lead. That is why the people are suffering,” Shehu said.
Mahdi Shehu criticised politicians and top government officials for pretending that all is well. He said many in power are living in denial about the seriousness of the hunger crisis, and that such an attitude is dangerous.
“Active politicians along with elected and other public office holders that are pretending away hunger in Nigeria will have themselves to blame when the inevitable happens,” he warned.
According to him, those in power need to wake up and face reality, rather than rely on misleading statistics or stage-managed appearances of progress.
“There’s a hunger epidemic brewing in Nigeria. And if urgent steps are not taken, the country will be plunged into chaos,” Shehu added.
In his final warning, Mahdi Shehu painted a picture of what could happen if leaders fail to act now.
“It will be a situation better described as: everybody for himself, God for us all, survival of the fittest, and devil take the hindmost,” he said.
This, according to him, means a state of anarchy where people may be forced to do anything just to survive, including crime, protests, or civil unrest.
Shehu called on the government at all levels to take immediate steps to address food insecurity, rising inflation, and the widening poverty gap. He also urged civil society groups, the media, and the international community to speak up and demand accountability from Nigerian leaders.
Mahdi Shehu’s warning comes at a time when many Nigerians are struggling to cope with the high cost of living. The removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, the floating of the naira, and continued inflation have pushed prices of food, transport, and basic items out of reach for millions.
Recent reports by global agencies like the World Bank and the World Food Programme have also raised concerns about rising food insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions, where insecurity has also affected farming and trade.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, over 133 million Nigerians are classified as “multi-dimensionally poor,” meaning they lack access to food, health, education, and basic services.
Despite promises of reform and relief programs from the government, many citizens say their lives are not improving, leading to increasing frustration across the country.
