Popular Nigerian activist Aisha Yesufu has raised alarm over what she describes as the intentional use of hunger and poverty as instruments of control in Nigeria, warning that these conditions are being exploited to weaken citizens and dull their ability to think critically.
Taking to X, on Sunday the 1st of February, 2026, Yesufu noted that the scale of hunger across the country has pushed many Nigerians into a daily struggle for survival, leaving them with little energy or opportunity to participate in civic life or demand accountability from those in power.
She argued that the situation has produced a troubling reality in which Nigerians who are not facing hunger must shoulder a greater responsibility thinking and acting not just for themselves, but also for those who have been stripped of the strength and space to do so.
“Hunger that is deliberately inflicted has made many lose their capacity to think,” she said, describing poverty as “a cancer that has eaten up the very soul of our society.”
Yesufu further accused the political class of deliberately sustaining poverty, while offering short-term relief efforts mainly during election seasons. According to her, such measures are not aimed at solving long-term problems but are instead deployed to win votes and maintain power.
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She urged Nigerians who are financially stable to unite and take on the role of the nation’s moral compass, calling on them to act as the “soul and conscience of the nation” and to make intentional sacrifices for the country’s future.
“Nigeria has everything it needs to be great,” Yesufu said, stressing that confronting hunger is key to restoring what she described as the nation’s battered spirit. She added, “We must unlock the spirit that has been starved the Nigerian can-do spirit.”
Her comments come at a time of heightened anxiety nationwide, as soaring food prices, worsening poverty levels, and prolonged economic hardship continue to dominate public discourse.