Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed protests against economic hardship in the country, saying they were “sponsored” against President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Akpabio noted that citizens joining the protests were oblivious of the government’s efforts in tackling the challenge.

He said, “You can see sponsored protests here and there. Those people are not aware. Most of those sponsored protests are not aware of the kind of efforts made by this Senate together with the Federal Government to tackle this situation.”

Speaking at plenary on Tuesday, Mr Akpabio said authorities would consider available options, including food importation, to feed its citizens.

“No father would want to see his child sleep in the night without food, with their stomach gurgling. So we must provide. That’s why I said we will not limit our discussion to we will not import food. Wherever we can find food to put on the tables of Nigerians, we will do so,” Mr Akpabio said.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday echoed Mr Akpabio’s stance, blaming high cost of food in the country on desperate politicians who lost election in 2023.

On Monday, some Nigerians protested against rising food prices in Ibadan, Oyo State, chanting “Tinubu ole.” Similar protests were earlier held in Osun, Niger, Kano and Lagos states, Mr Tinubu’s homestate, last week.

A market survey by Peoples Gazette on February 7 showed that prices of most food items had increased by almost 100 per cent since Mr Tinubu assumed office last year.

Though spiking prices of food predated Mr Tinubu’s government, Mr Tinubu’s sudden fuel subsidy removal and floating of the naira have seen petrol price jump from N145 to N630, shooting up food prices as the naira continue its freefall against the dollar, trading for N1,825 against a dollar on Tuesday.

Mr Tinubu, in response to public outcry on rising cost of food directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to release about 42,000 metric tonnes of grain, including maize, millet and garri.

He also charged the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, State Security Service and the Nigerian Police to go after food hoarders, while the Nigerian Customs announced plans to distribute confiscated food items to Nigeria to ameliorate hunger in the country.

The International Monetary Fund in a summary of its assessment of the Nigerian economy lauded Mr Tinubu’s administration for structural reforms, scrapping fuel subsidy and floating of the naira.

It added that Mr Tinubu’s release of “cereals from the grain reserve, provided subsidised fertiliser to farmers,” amongst others were measures “to ease the impact of rapidly rising inflation on living conditions.”