Tinubu Govt manipulating food prices for political gain – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the federal government of dishonesty in its claims of increased local food production, saying widespread insecurity and displacement of farmers, particularly in northern Nigeria, make such claims false.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said even farmers who have not been displaced are struggling to continue production due to the soaring costs of fertilisers and other essential inputs.

The ADC condemned what it described as the government’s deliberate hoarding of imported food while millions of Nigerians suffer hunger, calling it an intentional act of “weaponising poverty” for political purposes.

“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 read.

The party argued that the reported reduction in food prices is artificial and largely driven by import waivers that have flooded the market with cheap foreign food, saying such actions are not a sign of sound economic policy or growth in local production.

“This may temporarily reduce food prices, but it comes at a heavy cost to local farmers who can no longer compete due to rising input costs and worsening insecurity,” the statement added.

Describing the government’s claims of boosting local production as “strange and dishonest,” the ADC said it was impossible for productivity to increase when many farmers had been displaced by bandit attacks.

“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 queried.

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The ADC called for a total overhaul of the country’s agricultural policy to ensure protection of local production, stabilisation of food prices, safety of farmers, and long-term food security.

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