The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of deliberately manipulating food prices and using hunger as a political tool amid growing economic hardship across Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC dismissed the government’s claim that food prices were dropping, describing the development as “artificial” and politically motivated.
The party argued that the supposed fall in prices resulted from import waivers and not from any genuine improvement in agricultural production.
“Contrary to what is being celebrated in official circles, the reality on the ground, as confirmed by farmers and struggling families, is that the Tinubu government is manipulating food prices and weaponising hunger for political gains,” the statement read.
The ADC criticised the government’s explanation that the decline was due to local production and targeted interventions under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket. The party said insecurity and high input costs had made farming increasingly difficult, making it illogical to claim production was rising.
“It is strange and dishonest to suggest that local output is increasing when many farmers have been displaced by bandits and can barely afford to plant,” the party said.
The Federal Government had earlier attributed the recent price drop to improved yields and the ongoing harvest season. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, made this known in Abuja during the 2025 World Food Day activities.
However, the ADC maintained that the drop was temporary and unsustainable, insisting that flooding the market with imported food would eventually cripple local producers.
“While this may bring momentary relief, it sabotages local farmers who cannot compete with cheap imports. This approach is neither a reflection of sound policy nor a path to food security,” the party added.
The ADC further accused the administration of hoarding imported food and questioned the morality of storing food in warehouses “while Nigerians go hungry.”
The statement concluded by urging the Federal Government to abandon what it called “propaganda-driven policies” and instead focus on rural security, local production, and long-term food sovereignty.
“Nigerians deserve truth and food, not manipulation and a false narrative of renewed hope,” the ADC declared.
