ABUJA — Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has delivered a blistering critique of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, warning that the government’s focus on military hardware over human capital is leading the nation toward a social explosion.
Speaking on the worsening socio-economic crisis, Yusuf lamented that the current leadership is prioritizing the purchase of “guns and Tucano Jets” while millions of Nigerians face starvation. “Instead of fighting hunger and poverty, we are buying guns… No society, none, with this much inequality and hunger will ever have peace,” the Professor declared.
A Nation of ‘133 Million Beggars’
The Professor’s warning comes as official data and grassroots reports paint a grim picture of life in Nigeria as of early 2026:
- Multidimensional Poverty: Yusuf cited that approximately 133 million Nigerians—roughly 65% of the population—are living in multidimensional poverty. He argued that the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira have “killed the purchasing power of the common man.”
- Education Crisis: He highlighted a staggering 20 million children out of school, describing them as a “ticking time bomb” that military might cannot defuse.
- The Hunger ‘Silent Killer’: Yusuf warned that the lethal silence in the North is more dangerous than open protests, urging the President to “flood the market with food” before things get too late.
Luxury SUVs vs. Grassroots Survival
The Professor’s remarks gained fresh momentum following reports that Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu is distributing 2026 model Toyota Prados worth nearly ₦3 billion to local government chairmen.
Critics have pointed out that while the political elite enjoys luxury, the price of basic food items has surged, with a single modest meal’s ingredients now costing upwards of ₦2,500. This disparity has fueled what Yusuf calls “state-imposed hunger.”
Militarization vs. Dialogue
Yusuf, a known advocate for dialogue over military confrontation, argued that even “one million Tucano jets” would not end banditry because it is essentially a social and economic problem. He accused current leaders of being “bad custodians” who are more interested in making the National Assembly “malleable” through ₦75bn vehicle grants than feeding the 36 states.
The 2027 Political Shadow
The growing disillusionment has cast a shadow over the 2027 “Patriotic Assignment” narrative being pushed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Opposition figures contend that patriotism cannot be expected from a populace crushed by record-high debt (₦152.4 trillion) and systemic insecurity.
As the Malami terrorism financing trial continues to dominate the courts, Yusuf’s call for “doing things differently” remains a central theme for those demanding a pivot from military spending to human survival.
