Nigerians express anger over political support group use voters card to distribute rice and garri

A video circulating on X shows members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) distributing bags of rice and garri to Nigerians, sparking outrage across the platform. Many users criticized the move as a blatant attempt to leverage poverty for political gain.

Commenters highlighted the deeper issues behind such handouts, pointing to a recurring cycle of economic hardship in the country. “This is all they know how to do—borrow money every month to buy rice and call it generosity,” wrote one X user. Others noted the systemic nature of the problem: “In a country where poverty has been weaponized, a bag of rice becomes a supposed act of salvation.”

The backlash underscores frustration with survival politics, with many Nigerians arguing that temporary handouts cannot substitute for sustainable policies that address unemployment, inflation, and economic insecurity. Users on X called for a focus on structural change rather than episodic gestures, noting that citizens need both mental and material support to navigate the challenges imposed by decades of mismanagement.

The incident has reignited debate about the intersection of politics and poverty in Nigeria, illustrating how public discontent is increasingly voiced through social media platforms.

READ ALSO: Nigerians outraged as Senate approves Tinubu’s $5bn loan request less than three hours after letter was read

The oil price benchmark for the 2026 budget was $64.85 per barrel, with an assumed daily oil production of 1.84 million barrels per day.

But since the commencement of the war in the Middle East February 28,  the price of Brent crude has risen sharply to $115 per barrel, with projections suggesting a sustained upward trend, as both sides in the Middle East conflict continue to bomb each other’s oil facilities.

Nigeria is currently raking in significant revenue from the spike, which is currently twice the budget benchmark.

However, instead of the country’s lawmakers legislating to save the extra revenue for a rainy day, they embarked yet again on a spending binge.

The sweeping decisions, taken at plenary of both chambers of the National Assembly following the presentation and consideration of the Joint National Assembly Committee on Appropriation report and fresh presidential correspondence, underscored an aggressive fiscal expansion strategy. It was said to be aimed at stabilising the economy, addressing legacy obligations, and unlocking infrastructure development.

Though concerns persisted over rising public debt and implementation efficiency.

Tinubu also sought the approval of the House of Representatives to obtain a $5 billion external loan from First Abu Dhabi Bank of the United Arab Emirates.

Reacting to the fresh loan request, former Vice President and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, expressed concern over the Senate approval, less than four hours after its presentation.

The revised budget represented an increase of over N9 trillion from the N58.18 trillion initially proposed by the president in December 2025.