Nigerians have rejected the Presidency’s recent claim that food prices have been decreasing, sparking widespread disagreement on social media.
Rinsola Abiola, the Senior Special Assistant on Citizenship and Leadership to President Bola Tinubu, stated on a recent AIT Weekend Show that online vendors have confirmed a reduction in food prices. She attributed this decline to the federal government’s efforts to address economic hardship and hunger.
However, Nigerians on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) were quick to disagree, insisting that the situation on the ground does not align with the Presidency’s statements. They pointed out that prices of foodstuffs remain high, with many blaming factors such as rising transportation costs due to increased fuel prices.
DJ Switch, a prominent figure from the #EndSARS protest, conducted a poll asking if people had noticed a decrease in food prices. The overwhelming response from Nigerians indicated that food prices were either unchanged or continuing to rise.
One user, Chinedu Okoli, noted that the supposed drop in tomato prices from ₦180,000 to ₦35,000 was due to seasonal harvests rather than government policies. Another user, @Bis_realibeh, criticized the government for what they perceived as “deceptive propaganda,” citing high transportation costs as a significant factor contributing to the ongoing high prices of food items.
Other users provided examples of their recent grocery purchases, highlighting that staples like rice, semovita, and beans are still being sold at elevated prices. Some argued that any temporary price reductions were limited to perishable goods, such as tomatoes and peppers, and would soon reverse once the harvest season ended.
Overall, the consensus among many Nigerians online is that the cost of living remains high, and the government’s claims of falling food prices are not reflective of the realities in the market.
Hyelsinta Hassan