Abuja, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of deliberately “weaponising hunger” and manipulating food prices to gain political leverage amid worsening economic conditions across the country.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the opposition party said the soaring cost of food and essential commodities reflects a “systemic failure of leadership” rather than market forces alone. The ADC called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s agricultural strategy, arguing that food security must be treated as a national emergency rather than a political tool.
The party urged the federal government to prioritise access to agricultural inputs, modern irrigation systems, and rural infrastructure to tackle the root causes of food inflation.
Responding to the criticism, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, dismissed the claims, insisting that the government is taking concrete steps to address the crisis.
Kyari noted that new policies are being rolled out to boost local food production, including expanded access to agricultural credit, improvements in supply chain storage, and partnerships aimed at reducing post-harvest losses.
While Nigerians continue to grapple with steep food prices and declining purchasing power, the debate highlights growing tension between government officials and opposition voices over how best to stabilise the nation’s food economy
