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Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has stirred widespread debate after saying Nigerians who rely on markets for their food are “lazy.” The Ebonyi North lawmaker made the remarks while defending the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration during an interview on The Mic On Podcast. Responding to concerns over rising food prices and the cost of living, Nwaebonyi argued that citizens also have a responsibility to produce their own food instead of depending entirely on the government to address food inflation.
The senator, who described himself as an active farmer, said he grows most of the food he consumes, including yam, adding that the only item he regularly buys from the market is vegetables. According to him, Nigerians who have the capacity to farm should embrace agriculture, insisting that increased local food production would naturally drive down the prices of food items. He maintained that while the government should provide infrastructure and create an enabling environment, citizens also have a role to play in achieving food security.
Nwaebonyi’s comments have since attracted criticism on social media, with many Nigerians arguing that millions of urban residents lack access to farmland and depend on markets for their daily food needs. Others pointed to insecurity, high farming costs and limited access to agricultural inputs as major barriers preventing many households from producing their own food. The remarks come at a time when rising inflation and increasing food prices continue to place significant financial pressure on families across the country, making food security one of Nigeria’s most pressing economic challenges.
