Amid rising concerns over worsening hunger across Nigeria, the Federal Government’s decision to allocate ₦712.3 billion for the renovation of a single airport has sparked widespread criticism, raising questions about the nation’s budgetary priorities in a time of deepening human crisis.
Just days ago, the United Nations issued a stark warning that 34 million Nigerians are currently at risk of hunger—a figure that was widely reported in national newspapers on August 1, 2025. This alarming statistic reflects not just numbers, but the everyday struggle of millions—parents, children, and entire communities—who are confronting severe food insecurity.
Shockingly, on the same day this report was published, the Federal Government announced a ₦712.3 billion budget for the renovation of an airport—an amount that exceeds the national budgetary allocations for food security, public health, and emergency welfare programs combined.
Analysts and concerned citizens have called the move tone-deaf and irresponsible, especially in light of Nigeria’s ranking among the hungriest nations in the world, falling into the “serious hunger” category as defined by global development indexes.
“This is not just about infrastructure,” said one development expert. “It’s about national priorities and the value we place on human life. When people are starving, airports can wait.”
Critics also question the necessity of the expenditure, referencing a previous $500 million loan obtained from China Exim Bank in 2013, which, along with local counterpart funding, was used to upgrade five international airports: Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Enugu. Many are now asking why, just over a decade later, an even larger amount is required for the renovation of a single airport.
“This isn’t just financially questionable—it’s morally indefensible,” said one civil society leader.
“Development is not about building monuments. It’s about feeding people, keeping them safe, healthy, and educated. That is what builds a nation.”
READ ALSO: Hunger in Nigeria: ‘Not Climate, But Lack of Humanity’ — Shehu Sani Slams Leaders
Amidst record levels of poverty, internal displacement, and economic uncertainty, experts are calling for a wholesale rethink of national priorities. The call is clear: redirect resources toward essential services that directly impact citizens’ lives—food security, education, healthcare, and security.
“Food security is national security,” said a policy analyst.
“When a government invests in feeding its people, it’s investing in stability, productivity, and the future.”
The sentiment echoes the words of Nobel Laureate in Economics, James A. Robinson, who stated in 2024: “Nations like Nigeria know what to do to prosper, but just can’t do it.”
For many Nigerians, that quote now seems painfully prophetic.
As the hunger crisis escalates, the growing disconnect between government spending and the people’s urgent needs has become impossible to ignore. Citizens, civil society organizations, and thought leaders are urging the government to act decisively—and humanely.
The time, they insist, is now—to place people above projects, and dignity above display.