The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over rising food prices, accusing the government of failing to address the worsening cost-of-living crisis facing Nigerians.
The party’s reaction came as the President’s wife, Remi Tinubu, visited Ogun State yesterday to launch the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-West.
In a statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the latest inflation figures showed that the government had “run out of ideas”, arguing that its focus on headline inflation failed to reflect the daily economic realities of ordinary Nigerians.
Abdullahi said the government should adopt an approach that places food security at the centre of national security, with immediate measures to increase food production, reduce input, energy and transport costs, improve security and establish strategic food reserves.
The party also called for measurable targets aimed at ensuring that Nigerians could afford basic food while farmers earned sustainable incomes from their produce.
ADC said it had taken note of the latest inflation figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which showed that headline inflation moderated from 15.91 per cent in June to 15.43 per cent in July.
It, however, expressed concern that food inflation moved in the opposite direction, rising from 17.52 per cent in June to 20.31 per cent in July year-on-year.
According to the party, month-on-month food inflation also increased from 3.75 per cent in June to 5.56 per cent in July, indicating continued pressure on the prices of essential food items.
ADC said the figures were consistent with concerns previously raised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation over acute food insecurity in Nigeria.
The opposition party accused the government of celebrating improvements in headline inflation while Nigerians continued to struggle to afford basic food.
It challenged the administration to explain why the cost of food remained beyond the reach of many citizens if its economic reforms were delivering the desired results.
The party, however, said it believed the Tinubu administration had done its best within the limits of its chosen approach, but urged the government to acknowledge when its policies were not producing the desired outcomes.
Food bank initiative
Meanwhile, the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-West was launched in Ogun State as part of the social investment component of the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The programme, launched at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, is designed to provide food support to vulnerable households while developing community-based systems for sustained access to safe and nutritious food.
Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said the launch took place in Makun, Sagamu, with governors, first ladies from across the country and other stakeholders expected to attend.
He said food items would be distributed to vulnerable households as part of efforts to strengthen the government’s social intervention programmes.
According to the Federal Government, the initiative initially targets 500,000 vulnerable households nationwide in its first year, with a focus on improving access to nutritious food, reducing hunger and strengthening community resilience.
The programme also seeks to promote collaboration among government agencies, communities, development partners and other stakeholders in developing a sustainable response to food insecurity.
During the visit, Mrs Tinubu also commissioned the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate and the Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence in Ogun State.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Abiodun commended the First Lady for championing the initiative, describing it as a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable families and tackling food insecurity.
He said the food bank programme went beyond conventional food distribution by creating a link between agricultural production and social intervention.
According to him, the initiative would also help create sustainable markets for farmers while strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
