Garba Shehu has said on national television that food prices in Nigeria have crashed due to President Buahri’s agricultural reforms.
NAIJA NEWS NG reports that the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity made this claim on Channels Tv’s Sunrise Daily program. Garba Shehu was reacting to President Buhari’s directive to Central Bank of Nigeria not to release Forex for importation of food and fertilizers.
Garba Shehu said, “To say the cost of food items is connected to the closure of the borders is absolutely wrong. And to say that the prices of food ain’t coming down, I think the scholar has detached himself from the market because we sat through the meeting of the National Food Security Council and we heard presentations by experts – people who had surveyed the markets.
“As of yesterday (Thursday), in the morning of the meeting, go and check the index in markets. For instance in Kano, millets that had gone up to N24,000 has now gone down to N12,000, N13,000. Rice that had been N25,000 is now N20,000. Corn, maize is now N18,000 for the old stock and N14,000, N15,000 for the new stock.
“So, to say that there is no change in the prices is to show one is completely detached from what is happening in the country.”
When told by the moderators of the programme that his position was contrary to the reality being faced daily by Nigerians on the streets, Shehu insisted,
“As the Germans say, if you want to get the best of the weather, open the windows. My suggestions to the journalists who sit and write all of these numbers is, send your correspondents to the streets, go to the markets and find out.
“I didn’t say that all of the prices, the changes had crashed completely. They are coming down because the harvested items are coming into the market. Prices are coming down, they will continue to go down as more and more food items are harvested. It’s a seasonal thing and we are going to see through this as well.”
We have curated the reaction of Nigerians to this claim on Twitter , read below :
Phemmy
@Bobofemmo
“I don’t believe you, am just coming from the market, food cost no be small ugu wey I dey buy plenty don shrink in quantity, even rice, garri and pepper sef are not left out, seems all this food stuffs has listening ears to the current fuel price..”
Dave Oriss
@orissonline
“I’m worried to rejoice because in few weeks prices may sky rocket just like they did fo fuel. I mean do I start stocking up reading this?”
Muyideen Oban$
@muyiobans
“I honestly think we should stop bashing this guy at the top… They need more of our prayers than criticism …. Adura Ni presidency need baaayi… Who be dere mixer for that side …. He need collect merit award”
Olushola Olufolabi
@olushola_shola
Replying to
@MobilePunch
Oga
@GarShehu
“person no go die the day you stop lying….. So stop it already !!”
Silver Falcon
@Asegun_ni_mi
Replying to
@MobilePunch
“This is a lifeless and wicked regime. Nigeria lacks the right infrastructure, agricultural facilities and sound agriculture value chain, yet one paid garbage truck is opening his mouth waaaahhh to say food prices are reducing after they’ve banned cheap importation. Pathetic.”
