ADC Accuses Tinubu Govt Of Manipulating Food Prices For Politics

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using food prices as a political tool, describing the government’s claims of improved local production as dishonest and misleading.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party alleged that the government is deliberately manipulating the food supply chain to create a false impression of progress while millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with hunger. The ADC argued that the supposed drop in food prices was not the result of sound economic policy or increased local output but rather the effect of import waivers that have flooded the market with foreign goods.

The party said the move, while temporarily easing prices, is undermining local farmers who are already burdened by high input costs, especially fertilisers, and worsening insecurity across the country. It described the current situation as a political ploy that sacrifices long-term agricultural growth for short-term image management.

According to the ADC, government officials celebrating a reduction in prices are detached from reality, as rural communities are still suffering from displacement caused by bandit attacks. The statement questioned how food production could be rising when farmers in many northern states have abandoned their farmlands due to fear and financial constraints.

The party also accused the federal government of hoarding imported food in warehouses instead of distributing it to alleviate hunger. It described this as “a cruel act of political manipulation” designed to use hunger as a weapon during an economic crisis.

The ADC called for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s agricultural strategy, urging the government to protect local production, ensure food price stability, and address the security challenges that have crippled the farming sector.

It added that the country’s future depends on policies that empower rural farmers, promote food sovereignty, and end the cycle of poverty-driven politics. According to the ADC, Nigerians need honesty, practical reforms, and affordable food — not propaganda or manipulated statistics.