Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has asserted that the cost of living in Nigeria is experiencing a downward trend under the current administration.
Onanuga’s statement comes in response to a recent claim by the Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, who stated that food prices have significantly dropped compared to the previous year. He pointed to this as evidence that economic conditions are gradually improving under President Tinubu’s leadership.
In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Onanuga referenced Governor Radda’s comments, stating:
“Governor Radda of Katsina says the price of rice has fallen drastically in his state—a testament that the cost of living is decreasing under President Tinubu’s watch.”
Reports indicate that Governor Radda made these remarks during an interview with Arise News, where he highlighted a significant reduction in the prices of staple food items such as rice and maize compared to the same period last year. According to him, the decline in food prices is a direct result of increased agricultural support at both the state and federal levels, as well as the administration’s ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity, particularly in the Northwest region of Nigeria.
Governor Radda explained:
“The first meeting we had after our inauguration, we visited Mr. President and told him that we needed support in tackling insecurity in the Northwest, as well as assistance in improving productivity in agriculture.”
He further emphasized the role of President Tinubu’s policies in boosting food production, expressing his satisfaction with the administration’s initiatives:
“And we are glad with Mr. President for the establishment of the livestock ministry as well as the support he has been giving to the Ministry of Agriculture. That collaboration between us has definitely enhanced productivity, and this was clearly demonstrated in the last farming season. We have witnessed an improvement in the cultivation of our lands. Approximately 95% of our lands in Katsina State were cultivated, and food was produced in abundance.”
Governor Radda provided specific examples to illustrate the reduction in food prices, saying:
“I’m happy to say that food prices have drastically reduced. Last year, around this same time, a bag of maize was being sold for about ₦100,000. Today, the price of a bag of rice ranges between ₦50,000 and ₦54,000 in Katsina State, and that has really helped the people.”
He attributed this development to the extensive support provided to farmers, which enabled them to boost agricultural production.
Additionally, the Katsina governor praised the collaboration between the state and federal governments in addressing security challenges, stating:
“I think in terms of security, the collaboration between the state government and the federal government has been very strong. I must say we are happy with the contribution and the support the President has been giving to sub-nationals in terms of addressing security challenges in our country.”
Governor Radda’s comments and Onanuga’s subsequent endorsement have sparked mixed reactions from Nigerians, with some agreeing that there have been improvements in food prices, while others argue that the cost of living remains high in many parts of the country.