The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has claimed that prices of essential food commodities in Nigeria have reduced by up to 50%. He made this statement in Maiduguri while declaring open the Community of Practice Meeting of Commissioners for Agriculture, Health, Environment and Rural Development in Borno State. The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Borno State Government and supported by Germany. Kyari stated that President Bola Tinubu had placed food security at the centre of the national agenda.
According to Kyari, the prices of items have significantly dropped when compared to what they were prior to 2023. He cited the examples of a bag of rice and maize, saying their prices have decreased considerably. However, he emphasised that the summit will take into account the Kampala Comprehensive, African, Development Program Declaration and its Strategy and Action Plan for 2026–2035. The Kampala framework takes a broader agrifood systems approach, with priorities spanning sustainable production, investment and finance, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, resilience and stronger governance.
Kyari noted that Nigeria has developed and validated a 10-Year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan as the vehicle for domesticating these commitments. He emphasised that the summit provides an important sub-national mechanism for taking that declaration into implementation. States should leave this meeting clearer on how their action plans will advance the Kampala commitments and align with national priorities across rural infrastructure, extension, credit and quality inputs, labour-saving technologies, post-harvest loss reduction and climate-resilient agriculture.
Meanwhile, First Lady Remi Tinubu has stated that Nigeria's economy is stabilising, with foreign reserves growing and inflation decreasing. She made this statement at the One-Day Women Stakeholders' Mobilization and Empowerment Pre-Inaugural Summit organized by the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja. The event drew APC delegates from the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, as well as women groups and assemblies. Remi Tinubu expressed confidence in President Tinubu's leadership, saying his reforms are positively impacting the economy.
However, the food price reduction claim sparked outrage among Nigerians, who say the information does not reflect the reality in markets across the country. Many citizens who spoke in Lagos, Abuja and Osogbo said they have not felt any relief, insisting that purchasing power remains low while prices of basic staples remain high. A trader in Osogbo, Mrs. Funke Adeyemi, said that while some food items may have reduced in price, it is not up to 50% as claimed by the Agriculture minister.
Other Nigerians also expressed their dissatisfaction with the minister's claim. A civil servant in Abuja, Mr. Chinedu Okoro, said the minister's statement shows disconnection from the people, as many are barely surviving due to the high cost of food. A student, Aisha Bello, lamented that they lack purchasing power, even for basic items like garri. They urged the government to visit markets and get a feel of the reality on the ground.
The wives of the members of the House of Representatives have promised to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 20,000 votes per constituency during the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on behalf of the wives of the lawmakers, Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the women were satisfied with the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.
Key points
- Nigerians disagree with Agric Minister Abubakar Kyari's claim of 50% reduction in food prices.
- The government claims that food security is a priority, but citizens say prices remain high.
- The 2027 presidential election is expected to be influenced by the Tinubu administration's reforms.
