Hunger: Ex-Minister warns Tinubu of looming anarchy, wants policy reconsideration

ABUJA: A former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, has asked the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to reconsider some of its policies, warning of possible anarchy due to the growing wave of hunger and discontent among Nigerians.

According to him, most of the government’s economic policies have only aggravated poverty and inflation, leaving millions of Nigerians struggling to survive.

In a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja, the former federal lawmaker also criticized the hasty removal of fuel subsidy and other economic policies of the Tinubu administration, arguing that they are inflicting unprecedented suffering on the populace.

“The level of suffering across the country is unprecedented, except perhaps during the Nigerian Civil War. Families are struggling to meet basic needs. The policies, while perhaps well-intentioned, are exacerbating poverty, increasing inflation, and hurting the most vulnerable among us”, he stated.

Essien urged the Federal Government to rethink its approach and strike a balance between reducing the fiscal deficit and ensuring citizens do not plunge deeper into poverty.

While he emphasised the need for fiscal discipline and cutting the cost of governance, the former Minister warned that “it is inhuman to continue down this path without a clear plan to ease the burden on the citizens”.

“Our leaders cannot continue to fritter the commonwealth of the country recklessly and ask the people to make sacrifices.

“If urgent action is not taken to stem the hunger, poverty, and discontent in the country, we risk losing the patience of the people, and that could result in dire consequences”, he warned.

The former Minister also expressed great disappointment at what he described as underperformance by the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, which he said has now become a “symbol of corruption, inefficiency, and wasted resources.”

As one of the key advocates for the establishment of the NDDC, he lamented how far the Commission has strayed from its core mandate of bringing development to the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

“The NDDC, which was designed to be an engine of development for the oil-rich Niger Delta, has tragically become a symbol of corruption. Billions of naira are poured into endless regional master plans, stakeholders’ engagements, media campaigns, and infrastructure projects that never seem to materialise or make any significant impact on the lives of the people”, he stated.

Essien, who played a key role in the establishment of the NDDC during his time in the National Assembly, highlighted the lack of legacy projects in the Niger Delta, beyond the Commission’s headquarters building in Port Harcourt.

He accused the NDDC of perpetuating political patronage while neglecting the people it was created to serve.

“The region is inundated with abandoned projects while new administrations continue to award emergency contracts of street lights, shore protection, etc., as a means of extracting quick returns. The much-touted forensic audit has never been made public, and no one has been held accountable for the billions stolen”, he lamented.

Chief Essien called on President Tinubu to take urgent steps to refocus the NDDC on its core mandate, warning that continued mismanagement would further deepen the region’s woes.

The former minister also took aim at the NNPC Limited, criticizing its involvement in regulating the pricing of petroleum products produced by private refineries, particularly the Dangote Refinery.

He questioned the rationale behind NNPC’s interference, pointing out that the state-owned company had failed to effectively manage the country’s own refineries for decades.

He said; “It is unacceptable that an organization that has failed to manage the country’s refineries for over three decades should now meddle in the pricing of products from a privately owned refinery. The NNPC Limited is now a private entity in competition with Dangote Refinery. As such, it has no business regulating the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.”

In addition, Chief Essien voiced his support for a shift towards true federalism, emphasizing the need to devolve developmental responsibilities to the regions. He pointed out that the creation of regional development commissions, such as the NDDC, had set the stage for a more effective federal structure that would allow states and regions to better manage their own resources and development.

“The regions, states, and local governments should be given more revenue since they are closest to the people,” he stated. He also endorsed the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, which called for the Federal Government to step back from regional development and empower the zones to handle their growth.

“It is time for the federal government to look at the report of that Conference and ensure that the recommendations are implemented.

“The Niger Delta deserves better. Nigeria deserves better. It is only through honest dialogue and concerted action that we will achieve the development we so desperately need”, Essien added.

Election Transparency and Judicial Integrity

Chief Essien also addressed the need for electoral reforms, calling for greater transparency in local government elections and urging the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to ensure electronic accreditation and the electronic transfer and collation of results. He criticized the current practice where ruling parties in states dominate local elections, often without fair competition.

“Nigeria may not survive another attempt at a flawed election,” Essien warned, urging the Senate to take urgent action to restore trust in the electoral process. He also expressed concern over the increasing role of the judiciary in determining election outcomes, calling on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to “restore sanity to our courts and our electoral jurisprudence.”

“When a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA said he would not go to court to seek redress for an election he contested and believes was rigged, then we should be very worried,” Essien remarked, emphasizing the need for the judiciary to remain the guardian of democracy and fundamental rights.