Nigerians Fires Back At Presidency Over Hunger Comment
Nigerians have weighed in following the reaction of the Presidency to an editorial published last week by Daily Trust on the state of hunger in the country.
Last Thursday, the presidency rebutted the editorial published by Daily Trust, accusing the newspaper of distorting facts and painting an exaggerated picture of hardship and hunger in Nigeria.
In the editorial titled, ‘Nigerians are hungry’, Daily Trust had chronicled the current economic situation of the country as many Nigerians struggle to make ends meet.
“Whether as entrepreneurs, low-income earners, or employers of labour, Nigerians as individuals or corporate entities are currently passing through difficult times.
“The hustling to meet up with their daily subsistence needs has put most family heads and homes under intense financial pressure. The comparatively worthless value of the naira has further turned most low-income earners into off-street beggars,” part of the piece read.
The newspaper cited a recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which predicted that 33 million people in Nigeria including over 16 million children will not know where their next meal will come from in 2025.
Responding through the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, the Presidency claimed that the figure was a worst-case scenario from the Cadre Harmonisé Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis — a joint report involving the Federal Government, UNICEF, FAO and WFP — not a current status.
“This projection assumes no intervention by the government or partners, which is not the case,” Dare stated.
Describing the editorial as “biased” and “misleading”, the Presidency said, “The Tinubu administration believes in the right of the media to offer constructive criticism. But it must be anchored on facts, not distortion or selective pessimism.”
While acknowledging that many Nigerians are facing economic difficulties, the Presidency said the newspaper’s portrayal of the nation as helpless and directionless was both unfair and irresponsible.
“What is often criticised today are, in fact, the policies that will ensure Nigerians have a more secure, stable and prosperous future,” the statement added.
The Presidency faulted Daily Trust’s claim that the naira had become “worthless,” calling the assertion “false and misleading.”
“It is inaccurate to describe the naira as worthless when the currency has, in fact, strengthened significantly since March 2024,” the statement said, noting that the exchange rate had improved from ₦1,800/$1 to approximately ₦1,525/$1 as of August 1, 2025.
The Presidency also defended its economic strategy, stating that many viable public suggestions — including tax relief for essential goods and support for MSMEs — are already being implemented.
