Former Communications Minister, Adebayo Shittu, has expressed deep concern about Nigeria’s high poverty rate, stating that it has turned many citizens into beggars. In an appearance on AIT, Shittu, who served under the Buhari administration, described how Nigeria’s economic situation has forced people to beg for basic necessities. He shared personal anecdotes, recounting how he received a call from a man in Bauchi begging for N1,000 for food, and how another woman called him 30 times in a single day asking for N3,000. Shittu argued that poverty has become so pervasive that it has been weaponized, influencing voters to prioritize immediate handouts from politicians over their long-term capabilities. He lamented that he is personally struggling financially, attributing it to his refusal to engage in corruption while in office. He suggested that many former government officials face similar challenges after their appointments if they did not misuse public funds.