Tinubu’s Ministers, Lawmakers Denied Access to Him – Sen Ndume

…Says Children in Northwest Malnourished

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, told the BBC Hausa Service that the government’s alleged closed-door policy is a significant issue. He claimed that even some members of President Tinubu’s cabinet struggle to see the President, making it even harder for lawmakers to discuss issues affecting their constituencies.

Senator Ndume warned that widespread hunger in the country could lead to severe malnutrition, which has already begun to affect children in the Northwest. In a BBC Hausa interview monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna on Wednesday, Ndume cited a UN report predicting that 82 million Nigerians could face hunger within the next five years.

“We are afraid that one day people might go to the market with money but find no food to buy,” he said.

He highlighted reports from Katsina, indicating that persistent hunger is already causing severe issues, especially for children, who lack adequate food for healthy growth. “This is a situation typically found in places suffering from war or famine. We’ve seen similar conditions in Niger and South Sudan, where children have died. Now, this dire situation is emerging in Nigeria,” he said.

Ndume expressed concern over the disappearance of government food banks, which previously stored food for emergencies. “This is a matter of serious concern, and something should be done quickly about it,” he emphasized.

When asked why he hadn’t addressed these issues with the President privately instead of speaking to the media, Senator Ndume explained that it has become extremely difficult to meet the President. “Even some Ministers cannot see the President,” he alleged.