HURIWA Faults Tinubu Over Hunger, Demands Answers on Subsidy Savings

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised President Bola Tinubu for blaming previous administrations and opposition parties for Nigeria’s hunger and poverty, insisting that his government must take responsibility for the economic challenges facing citizens.

The rights group said the President’s remarks at the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 re-election campaign flag-off in Kaduna raised concerns about his administration’s willingness to accept responsibility for its economic policies and security challenges.

At the rally, Tinubu reportedly said: “They created the hunger. They created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it.”

In a statement issued on Sunday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, challenged the President’s position, arguing that the APC could not continue to blame previous administrations after nearly 12 years in power by the time Nigerians vote in 2027.

The association said that regardless of the economic conditions inherited by Tinubu, his administration should account for the impact of its own policy decisions. It specifically cited petrol subsidy removal and exchange-rate reforms, which it argued had increased pressure on households and businesses.

HURIWA also demanded that the government explain how the savings from petrol subsidy removal had been spent and provide details of the measurable benefits Nigerians had received from the reforms.

The group pointed to rising food prices, transportation costs, electricity tariffs and medicine prices, saying these pressures had made it increasingly difficult for many Nigerians to afford basic necessities. It added that small businesses were struggling with growing operating expenses.

The association further argued that complaints about hunger should not be dismissed as political attacks, describing them instead as legitimate demands for accountability from citizens affected by declining purchasing power and economic hardship.

Beyond the economy, HURIWA accused Tinubu of failing to adequately address insecurity while engaging in political exchanges with his opponents. It called on the President to provide explanations about efforts to rescue Nigerians reportedly held captive by terrorists and kidnappers in Borno, Kwara, Niger and other affected states.

The group’s demands add to the debate over the government’s economic reforms, the distribution of their benefits and its responsibility to address the cost of living and insecurity. The criticisms and policy assessments cited in the statement represent HURIWA’s position.