FG must fix insecurity to reduce poverty, not offer palliatives — Fr Ehusan

Rev. Fr. George Ehusan, Executive Director of the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise security and access to basic utilities instead of relying on palliatives to address poverty in Nigeria.

Ehusan argued that Nigerians are hardworking and capable of providing for themselves if the government creates an environment where they can live and work safely.

Speaking on the state of the economy, he criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira, which he said contributed to an unprecedented rise in inflation and worsening hardship.

The cleric also took issue with President Bola Tinubu’s comment that hunger existed before he was born, saying the level of poverty he had witnessed in recent years was unlike anything he had experienced throughout his life.

“The president said there was hunger before he was born, which is an unfortunate statement because I am almost 69 years old, and the kind of poverty I have seen in the last three years I have never seen since I was born,” Ehusan said.

He maintained that government interventions should focus on addressing the underlying causes of poverty rather than providing temporary relief to citizens.

According to him, insecurity remains one of the major obstacles preventing Nigerians from earning sustainable incomes, particularly in communities where farming and other economic activities have been disrupted.

“If the Government wants to reduce poverty, they need to fix insecurity,” he said.

Ehusan also criticised the continued use of palliatives, describing them as inappropriate for a population that wants to work and become economically independent.

“Nigerians are not asking for palliatives; it is an insult. Nigerians are hard-working and creative people; they can take care of themselves,” he said.

He urged the government to prioritise security and ensure that essential utilities remain affordable, arguing that such measures would give citizens the opportunity to improve their livelihoods without depending on emergency assistance.