President Tinubu Takes Swift Action to Tackle Rising Food Prices in Nigeria
In a pivotal move to address the mounting concerns over rising food prices in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has issued directives to the Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention.
This decision comes on the heels of protests that erupted in Niger and Kano States, where citizens voiced their frustrations over the escalating cost of essential food items.
The announcement was made by Information Minister Malam Mohammed Idris, who disclosed that the government is actively engaged in implementing immediate measures to alleviate the impact of soaring food prices.
Among the strategies being employed is the release of stored food from national reserves, coupled with ongoing discussions with key stakeholders in the milling and trading sectors.
Protests in Niger State took a tangible form as demonstrators blocked a major road in response to the continuous rise in food prices. Similarly, women in Kano expressed their discontent with the increased cost of flour in the state.
Governor Kabir Yusuf of Kano took proactive steps by meeting with business leaders to convey the hardships faced by Nigerians and assure them that their concerns would be communicated to the President.
Nigeria’s inflation rate has surged to approximately 30%, primarily fueled by the escalating costs of food. Minister Idris emphasized that President Tinubu is deeply concerned about the accessibility and affordability of essential food items across the nation.
The government’s commitment to addressing these challenges was underscored, reflecting a dedication to the well-being of Nigerian citizens.
“The government is very concerned about what Nigerians are going through, especially what happened in Minna yesterday. Therefore, the government is taking actions to ensure that Nigerians have relief in terms of the availability of food on the table,” Minister Idris asserted during a press briefing.
The ongoing committee meeting, convened in Abuja, includes key figures such as the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Central Bank Governor, Yemi Cardoso; the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Bagudu Atiku, along with Ministers of State for Agriculture, Sabi Abdullahi, and FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, are also part of the deliberations.
The committee’s discussions, scheduled to continue until Thursday, indicate that substantial measures are under consideration to ameliorate the deplorable situation.
Among the proposed actions is the unlocking of stored food reserves in various national facilities, ensuring that these resources are accessible to the public.
In addition to these measures, the government is actively engaging with major millers and commodity traders to explore collaborative interventions that will help stabilize food prices.
Minister Idris explained,
“The government is also talking to major millers and major commodity traders to also see what is available in their stores. To open it up, so that government will provide some intervention, discuss with them to provide some intervention to make this food available to Nigerians.”
Acknowledging that certain individuals may be contributing to food shortages due to high costs and currency depreciation, Minister Idris assured the public that President Tinubu has directed the government to take decisive actions to mitigate the challenges faced by Nigerians.
“What I will tell Nigerians is that the President has directed that the government needs to step in to stem this tide. The government will not fold its arms and see the way Nigerians are suffering in terms of the availability of these food items, so I want to plead with you to understand with the government,” emphasized Minister Idris.
As the committee’s meetings progress, the government aims to provide a definitive statement on its stance and proposed actions to address the rising food prices.
Minister Idris urged patience from the public, assuring that the government is actively working towards a comprehensive solution.
This development comes against the backdrop of a challenging economic landscape marked by a steep inflation rate, posing significant difficulties for ordinary Nigerians in securing affordable and accessible food.
The government’s commitment to intervening and alleviating these challenges underscores a proactive approach to addressing the immediate concerns of its citizens.
