𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐍𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐮𝐤𝐮, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku took to the streets on Monday to raise awareness about the pressing issue of hunger in Nigeria.

The actor staged a solo protest, holding a flag that read “Hunger dey ooo” (meaning ” There is hunger” or “Hunger is real” in Nigerian pidgin English), highlighting the struggles of many Nigerians facing food insecurity.

The protest, which was captured in a viral video, saw Anuku standing alone on a major road in Abuja, drawing attention to the plight of those affected by hunger.

According to recent statistics, over 20 million Nigerians face food insecurity, with many struggling to access basic meals.

With over 220 million people, Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa and the sixth in the world. It is the tenth-largest producer of crude oil in the world and achieved lower-middle-income status in 2014.

However, around 84 million Nigerians, representing about 37 per cent of the total population, live below the poverty line.

Conflict and insecurity, rising inflation and the impact of the climate crisis continue to drive hunger in Nigeria – with 26.5 million people across the country projected to face acute hunger in the June-August 2024 lean season.

This is a staggering increase from the 18.6 million people who were food insecure at the end of 2023.

Conflict in the North East region has displaced 2.2 million people and left another 4.4 million food insecure in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Three million of them are in Borno State, the epicentre of insurgency. Nigeria is subject to periodic droughts and floods. 

This has had an adverse impact on agricultural output and increased the vulnerability of populations, especially in rural areas.

In 2023, Anuku said he had been jobless for years.

The thespian, who was reacting to the viral video of him working as a fuel attendant at gas station in Delta State, said despite being a legend, he has been feeding from hand to mouth.

Speaking in a video message making the rounds on social media, Anuku called on the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his fans to come to his aid.

He said, “I have worked for this country. I have attained the height of being a legend. But I’ve had no job for, God knows, how many years. And I expect that Nigerians will also know that I did it all for them.

“I just gonna ask Governor Sheriff [Oborevwori] to please send support to me. And my fans who truly love and appreciate the works I’ve done for them, if you think you truly love me, may God help you all to help me.”