Dino Melaye Condemns APC-Led Government's Failures, Says Nigerians Now Scavenge Dumps for Food to Survive

 

Former senator and prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has issued a stark warning about the deepening hunger crisis in Nigeria, blaming the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the current state of economic despair.

During a candid appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Friday, Melaye described the level of poverty as nothing short of catastrophic, claiming that citizens are now rummaging through garbage in search of food. His remarks come amid rising inflation, unemployment, and widespread economic uncertainty gripping the nation.

While speaking passionately about the plight of everyday Nigerians, Melaye expressed heartbreak over the daily struggles of rural and urban dwellers alike. According to him, many can no longer afford the basic necessities of life, and food insecurity has reached a dangerous tipping point.

“The hunger in this country is chartered. People are dying of malnutrition in rural communities. It has become so alarming that individuals now frequent refuse dumps, hoping to find leftovers or scraps to survive,” Melaye stated during the televised interview.

He gave a chilling account of how intense the situation has become, warning that the desperation for food is pushing communities to the brink of chaos. According to the former Kogi West senator, a simple act of distributing food in a village could lead to stampedes and injuries due to the sheer volume of people competing for even the smallest ration.

“If you go to your village today and announce that you’re sharing just a few bags of rice, you’d better prepare for a crowd. The struggle would be so intense that people may get injured or worse, lose their lives, just for a tin or two of rice,” he lamented.

Melaye did not hold back in his criticism of the APC-led government, which he accused of steering the country in the wrong direction. He pointed out that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Nigerians are facing levels of economic hardship not seen in recent memory.

He questioned the leadership’s ability to deliver meaningful change and insisted that the current economic roadmap is flawed and unsustainable. “This government is not taking us anywhere productive. The path we are on leads nowhere. There is no hope, no visible end to the suffering,” he declared.

His statements add to the growing wave of criticism directed at the APC government over its handling of the economy, especially since the controversial removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira. These policy moves, while aimed at stabilizing the economy in the long term, have triggered a spike in the cost of living, affecting everything from transportation to food prices.

The removal of the subsidy has left citizens struggling with skyrocketing fuel costs, while the devaluation of the naira has significantly reduced purchasing power. Small and medium-sized enterprises are grappling with operational costs, and the unemployed masses continue to grow.

Melaye warned that if urgent measures are not taken to address these issues, Nigeria may face even deeper social and economic crises in the months ahead. He urged the Federal Government to reconsider its policies and prioritize the welfare of the average Nigerian.

“We cannot pretend that things are normal. The suffering is visible everywhere. From the cities to the most remote villages, people are crying for help. If leaders continue to ignore this, the consequences will be dire,” he said.

Although Melaye is known for his vocal style and dramatic public persona, his words this time echo sentiments shared by many Nigerians struggling under the weight of economic instability. His remarks have triggered a fresh round of debate among political commentators and citizens alike, many of whom agree that the nation is at a critical crossroads.

As poverty deepens and social frustration grows, the call for reforms and responsive governance becomes louder. Whether the government will act swiftly and meaningfully remains uncertain, but what is clear is that the voice of discontent is rising, and the cries from the garbage heaps are becoming harder to ignore.