FG Replies Obi, Defends Acceptance Of Food Donation From War-Torn Ukraine

The Federal Government has responded to the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, who described the food relief donated by war-torn Ukraine to Nigeria as a “national disgrace.”

In a series of tweets on Monday, Obi expressed dismay that Nigeria, once an economically confident nation with abundant natural resources and arable land, now relies on aid from Ukraine amid its military conflict with Russia.

Obi, who ran for president in 2023, blamed years of leadership failure for the situation.

However, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that Nigeria accepting grains from Ukraine does not make it a weak or failed state.

“Egypt gets about 60% of its grains from Ukraine. The fact that Egypt gets about 60% of its grains from Ukraine does not make it a failed state,” Idris said at the Leadership Annual Conference and Award 2023 in Abuja on Tuesday.

He emphasized that it is normal for countries to depend on one another, as challenges do not necessarily indicate a nation has failed.

Idris acknowledged Nigeria is facing difficulties, but said President Bola Tinubu can turn things around.

“In spite of the current challenges, the economic growth of Nigeria is on track and has continued to improve,” Idris stated, adding that fuel subsidy removal was a bold step that Nigerians should support to reap future benefits.

The minister noted the country’s challenges did not begin with Tinubu’s administration, citing National Bureau of Statistics figures showing Nigeria’s fuel importation reduced by 50% after subsidy removal.

“He has not stopped at that. Just last week, President Tinubu went to Qatar to attract more businesses and investments into Nigeria.

“We are optimistic that soon, what we are passing through will be a thing of the past and Nigeria will be better,” Idris said.