The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has expressed concern that President Bola Tinubu’s promised “renewed hope” is fading, with millions of Nigerians facing starvation and poverty.
The group notes that despite assurances of palliatives and social security structures, the government’s economic policies and alleged corruption have exacerbated the crisis.
HURIWA recalls the President’s July 2023 promise of a framework to remedy the effects of fuel subsidy removal, which has yet to materialize.
The group criticizes the government’s failure to address corruption and alleged diversion of public funds, including the accused suspended minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, according to Daily Post.
The rights group demands that the President directs security agencies to monitor the distribution of palliatives, including 20 trailer loads of rice for each state, to prevent theft by top officials and politicians.
HURIWA urges the government to prioritize the welfare and security of citizens, as constitutionally mandated.
HURIWA said “The security of lives and property of the citizenry and ensuring their well-being and welfare are the essential components that constitutionally constitute the primary and basic duty of government even as the Rights group said the President must do everything under the sun to stop the coming mass deaths of Nigerians from persistent starvation created by poor economic policies of his administration and the heightened state of insecurity and instability in Nigeria.”
HURIWA bemoaned the fact that “millions of Nigerians have become desperately poor, deprived and hungry” even as the rights group said the government has failed to resolve the troubling trend of alleged corruption and alleged large scale diversion of public funds by some suspended officials of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Besides, HURIWA carpeted the governors and other high profile Federal Government officials for “diverting and stealing the palliatives released by the President for the benefit of starving Nigerians”.
