Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has claimed that some ministers are unable to meet with President Bola Tinubu to discuss pressing national issues.
The Borno lawmaker made this assertion during an interview with BBC Hausa.
Ndume highlighted the federal government’s struggle to address hunger, hardships, and insecurity as significant challenges.
“The major problem with this government is that its doors are closed, to the extent that even some ministers cannot see the President, not to mention members of the National Assembly, who do not have the opportunity to meet with him and discuss the issues affecting their constituencies,” Ndume said.
In a related development, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi has sponsored a motion to address the country’s food crisis.
The lawmaker noted that the World Food Programme has warned that 82 million Nigerians could face food insecurity in the next five years.
Karimi stated that the motion aims to draw the government’s attention to the severity of the food crisis affecting many Nigerians.
He expressed concern that without urgent action, the situation could lead to famine and starvation, especially among children.
“We want to draw the government’s attention to the fact that Nigeria is not only facing a high cost of living but also food scarcity,” he said.
Karimi cited the example of Katsina State, where children are already suffering from malnutrition due to food scarcity. He also referenced the situations in Niger Republic and South Sudan, where children are dying from hunger.
“We have seen how it happened in Niger Republic and South Sudan, where children are dying due to hunger, and we are starting to see it in Nigeria,” the senator added.
Calling on the government to take immediate action to address the food crisis, including meeting with experts and other stakeholders to find a solution, Karimi expressed disappointment that no concrete steps had been taken despite promises.
“We urge the government to sit with experts and other stakeholders to find a solution to the problem. Immediate action is necessary, as Nigeria is grappling with both soaring prices and a severe food shortage,” he said.
“We fear that a day may come when even if someone has the financial means to purchase food, they will go to the market and find none available,” he concluded.