‘People Are Hungry’ Is Not a Manifesto, Nya-Etok Tells Atiku, Obi

The Executive Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Arch. Ezekiel Nya-Etok, has challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to present concrete policy proposals for tackling hunger and economic hardship, insisting that describing Nigerians as hungry is not a solution.

Nya-Etok, who made the remarks during an interaction with journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said politicians seeking to lead Nigeria must explain how they intend to address the country’s challenges rather than merely highlighting the suffering of citizens.

According to a report by National Witness published on October 20, 2026, the housing agency executive argued that acknowledging hunger and hardship was only a description of the situation, not a practical plan for resolving it.

“People are hungry is a situation report and not a solution,” he said, urging opposition politicians to explain how their proposed policies would improve the lives of Nigerians.

He added that political parties and candidates should provide clear explanations of their plans, including how they intend to implement their promises and achieve their economic objectives.

The comments come as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with candidates and political parties increasingly debating the economy, poverty, insecurity and the cost of living.

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Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has repeatedly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the rising cost of living and what he described as worsening poverty.

In an October 1, 2026, address marking Nigeria’s Independence Day, Atiku accused the All Progressives Congress-led administration of deepening the economic difficulties facing Nigerians. He called for measures to make essential goods and services more affordable and outlined a proposal for a targeted subsidy on locally refined petroleum products.

Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has also identified hunger, poverty and insecurity as major challenges confronting the country.

Speaking in Abuja in September, Obi called on political leaders to shift their attention from political disagreements to finding solutions to the difficulties facing ordinary Nigerians. He argued that political competition should focus on improving citizens’ welfare and reducing poverty.

Nya-Etok’s criticism appears to centre on the need for candidates to go beyond identifying these problems and explain the policies through which they intend to solve them.

Nya-Etok defends Tinubu’s economic reforms

The Federal Housing Authority executive also defended the Tinubu administration, arguing that increased revenue allocations to state governments had helped them meet financial obligations, including the payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

He maintained that reversing the removal of the petrol subsidy would return Nigeria to a period when many state governments struggled to meet their financial responsibilities.

Nya-Etok also expressed support for Tinubu’s re-election bid, predicting that the president would secure victory in 2027.

He argued that the current political situation offered the incumbent an advantage, while expressing concerns about the implications of a possible return to power by Atiku.

He also questioned the expectations surrounding Obi’s presidential ambition, arguing that the demands placed on an Obi-led administration could prove difficult to meet within a four-year term.

On corruption, Nya-Etok expressed scepticism about promises to eliminate the practice, arguing that addressing it would require confronting deeper problems within Nigerian society and governance.

His comments add to the growing political debate over whether the country’s next administration should prioritise reversing existing economic policies, introducing targeted relief measures or pursuing alternative strategies to increase production, create jobs and reduce poverty.

With the 2027 election approaching, the debate is likely to place greater emphasis on the economic proposals of presidential candidates, their funding arrangements and the practical steps they intend to take to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.