The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of manipulating food prices in the country and weaponising hunger for political gain.

“Contrary to what is being celebrated in official circles, the reality on the ground, as confirmed by struggling farmers and families across the country, is that the Tinubu government is manipulating food prices and weaponising hunger for political gain,” said by ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement on Tuesday.

The minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, claimed that Mr Tinubu’s policies had set Nigeria “firmly on the right path,” citing the drop in the price of rice from N120,000 to about N80,000.

In an article titled, “Nigeria turning towards prosperity,” Mr Edun explained that the country had turned towards prosperity, noting that the most difficult phase of the nation’s economic journey was behind.

However, ADC noted that the reported drop in the prices of some food items was artificial and a result of import waivers that had flooded the market with cheap foreign food. 

“It is neither evidence of sound policy nor proof of increased local production. And while that may offer momentary relief, it has come, and will come, at the heavy cost of sabotaging local farmers who can no longer compete due to soaring input costs, especially fertilisers, and worsening insecurity,” the party clarified.

ADC further said that any “current drop in price is temporary, unsustainable, and driven by panic, not strategy or deliberate planning,” contrary to claims by the Federal Government that its policies were leading to increased domestic production, particularly when banditry was taking root in some parts of the country.

“This is propaganda. What we are witnessing is a deliberate manipulation of food prices for short-term political gain, designed to create the illusion of economic progress while citizens continue to suffer. We also take note of the government’s claim that it has not released imported food into the market.

“If we are to even momentarily entertain this falsehood, it begs an even more damning question: why is the government hoarding food while the people go hungry? What sort of administration stores food in warehouses during a hunger crisis?,” ADC said.

The party condemned weaponisation of hunger by Mr Tinubu-led administration, calling for an urgent and complete overhaul of the current agricultural approach.