President Bola Tinubu is fully aware of food price pressures facing ordinary Nigerians, according to Dr Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North-Central region. Essiet dismissed suggestions that only journalists understand the hardship people endure, saying the administration regularly briefs the President on market prices for everyday items such as eggs and bread. She made the remarks while speaking to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.
Essiet said members of the Federal Executive Council also communicate the realities facing Nigerians directly to the President. She argued that infrastructure development remained central to the administration's approach, citing a recent visit to the Mokwa-Bida road in Niger State, which she said had not been upgraded for 46 years. According to Essiet, residents in the area expressed strong support for road reconstruction because of safety concerns, with trailers and other vehicles regularly involved in accidents on the deteriorating route.
The President has directed that the Mokwa-Bida road be rebuilt using reinforced concrete rather than standard asphalt to ensure long-term durability, Essiet said. Her comments come after Vice President Kashim Shettima promised on 19 October that food prices would decline in the coming weeks as the administration tackles agricultural challenges. Shettima made the pledge at an event organised by groups backing the President's reelection bid in January 2027.
For millions of Nigerians struggling with the rising cost of food, the government's acknowledgement of the problem and its stated commitment to addressing agricultural challenges signals official recognition of the squeeze on household budgets, though concrete relief remains to be seen.