Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, lamented “unbearable”  economic hardship in Nigeria under the watch of President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Sanusi spoke at the Kano Government House on Thursday during the distribution of free fertiliser to 52,800 farmers across Kano State’s 44 local government areas.

“People are in a dire situation,” Mr Sanusi said. “I’m aware that people now resort to buying half pepper because of the high cost of food items. This is unbearable.”

The former Central Bank governor said, “But I think with efforts like this, people can get some relief,” suggesting that the fertiliser distribution initiative would help farmers.

Mr Sanusi’s lamentation on hardship characterised by spiking food prices comes in the wake of planned nationwide protests scheduled for August in response to the severe economic challenges that have intensified since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.

Although economic hardship predated Mr Tinubu’s presidency, his policies, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and the decision to float the naira, have led to a surge in petrol prices from N145 to N710 per litre, and the naira has plunged to approximately N1,500 to the dollar.

While economic experts and the International Monetary Fund have praised these measures as courageous reforms, the resultant spike in food prices has triggered protests in several states, including Niger, Osun, Ibadan, and Lagos, Tinubu’s home state.

Surveys conducted by the Peoples Gazette reveal that food prices have soared by more than 100 per cent nationwide since Mr Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023.

In March, the economic strain led to a raid on a government-owned warehouse in Abuja, where residents looted food supplies. In Suleja and Zaria, trucks carrying foodstuffs were attacked as widespread hunger continued to plague the nation.