Oyintiloye implores Tinubu to tackle hunger, reopen Benin Republic border

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has implored President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on hunger and reopen the nation’s border with Benin Republic. 

He said reopening of the Benin Republic border for importation will solve the food crisis in the country.

Speaking with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, Oyintiloye said “Nigerians are hungry and living below the poverty line”.

He noted that harsh economic conditions have made it challenging for many households to afford basic staples. 

He harped on the UN warning that 82 million Nigerians, representing about 64 percent of the population, could face severe hunger by 2030.

He added that while the president is making efforts to address these issues through various intervention programmes, the impact is yet to be felt. 

“Despite Nigerians working hard under challenging conditions, their earnings are not sufficient to sustain their families due to rampant inflation,” he said. 

“Prices of basic household food items are on the rise and are becoming out of reach for the masses.” 

He urged the president to declare a state of emergency on hunger, starvation, and poverty, warning that “hunger is a threat to national peace”.

“I will want to urge the president to, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on hunger, starvation, and poverty in the country,” he said.

“Hunger is a threat to national peace, and that is why the president must act very fast.”

Oyintiloye also called for the implementation of price control mechanisms to curb exploitative practices by traders.