The Information Minister, Malam Mohammed Idris, made this announcement after a committee meeting on Tuesday in Abuja. On Monday, protesters blocked a major road in Niger State to show their dissatisfaction with the high food prices. Similarly, women in Kano last week protested against the rising cost of flour.
Governor Kabir Yusuf of Kano held a meeting with business leaders on Monday and promised to bring the hardship faced by Nigerians to the President’s attention. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s inflation rate has risen to about 30%, primarily due to the increasing cost of food.
Idris told journalists on Tuesday evening that President Tinubu was concerned about the accessibility and affordability of food items across the nation. The committee meeting will continue until Thursday, and several significant measures are being considered to alleviate the situation.
The government plans to unlock the food available in storage facilities around the country and is talking to major millers and commodity traders to make it available to Nigerians. The government is aware that some individuals are creating food shortages due to the high cost and depreciation of the currency.
Idris assured Nigerians that the government would take action to address the situation, saying, “The government will not fold its arms and see the way Nigerians are suffering in terms of the availability of these food items, so I want to plead with you to understand with the government.”
The meeting was attended by several dignitaries, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Central Bank Governor, Yemi Cardoso, Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Budget and Economic Planning Minister, Bagudu Atiku, and Ministers of State for Agriculture, Sabi Abdullahi, and FCT, Mariya Mahmoud.