By Paul Joseph
Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has blamed part of the hardship confronting Nigerians on what he described as the “laziness” of citizens who depend on the market for food, urging them to return to farming and produce what they consume.
Nwaebonyi made the remarks while featuring on The Mic On Podcast, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye on Friday, where he defended the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu and argued that Nigerians should take greater responsibility for food production.
The Ebonyi North senator questioned why citizens expect the President to control the prices of food commodities or personally provide food for families.
“Do you expect Tinubu to moderate the prices of garri in the market? Do you expect Tinubu to come and give you yam to feed your family?” he asked.
Nwaebonyi said he personally engages in farming and produces a substantial portion of the food he consumes.
He disclosed that 22 tubers of yam were recently delivered from his farm in Ebonyi State, using his experience to argue that Nigerians with access to land should cultivate food rather than rely entirely on buying from the market.
According to him, increased agricultural production at the individual and community levels would increase food supply and help reduce the prices of food commodities.
He maintained that government should focus on providing the infrastructure and basic services needed to support citizens, including roads, electricity, education and healthcare, rather than attempting to dictate market prices.
The senator also defended the Tinubu administration against criticism over the country’s economic difficulties, citing government investments in road infrastructure.
He argued that economic hardship and poverty were not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that people also experience poverty in developed countries such as the United States.
His comments, however, have generated widespread reactions, particularly at a time when Nigerians are facing rising food prices, inflation and increasing pressure on household incomes.
While some have backed his call for increased agricultural production, critics questioned whether ordinary Nigerians have adequate access to land, capital, farm inputs and other resources required to return to farming and produce enough food for their families.
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