The All Progressives Congress-controlled federal government has been accused of manipulation in respect of food prices to score political points with electorate.
The allegation was levelled at the government by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The latter accused the government of dishonesty over its claims of increased local food production, saying that widespread insecurity and the displacement of farmers, particularly in northern Nigeria—make such assertions untrue.
The fault-finding is the subject of a statement ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, issued in which the party claimed the twin problems of insecurity in the North and alleged inaccessibility of fertiliser, and other essential agricultural inputs to farmers due to soaring costs made the government’s claim unattainable.
“The ADC is deeply concerned about the Federal Government’s misleading narrative around the so-called drop in food prices. Contrary to what is being celebrated in official circles, the reality on the ground—as confirmed by struggling farmers and families across the country—is that the Tinubu administration is manipulating food prices and weaponising hunger for political gains,” the statement said.
The party said the reported reduction in food prices is artificial and driven by import waivers that have flooded the market with cheap foreign food.
“This is neither evidence of sound economic policy nor proof of increased local production. While it may temporarily reduce food prices, it comes at a heavy cost to local farmers who can no longer compete due to rising input prices, particularly fertilisers, and worsening insecurity,” it added.
The party further described as “strange and dishonest” the government’s claim that its policies are boosting domestic production at a time when many farmers have been displaced by bandits.
“How can production be increasing when the rural economy is under siege by bandits and the cost of planting is now beyond the reach of the average farmer?” the party declared.
