ADC Accuses FG of Manipulating Food Prices, Weaponising Hunger for Political Gains

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Federal Government of deliberately distorting facts surrounding the current state of food prices in Nigeria. In a strongly worded statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the government’s claim of improved local food production as “dishonest and misleading.”

According to the ADC, while official channels celebrate an alleged drop in food prices, the lived reality of millions of Nigerians paints a starkly different picture. The party said the narrative being pushed by the Tinubu-led administration is “a calculated attempt to create false hope” and conceal the worsening food crisis.

The statement noted that most farmers, particularly in the northern regions, have been displaced by banditry, with many abandoning their farmlands due to insecurity and the rising cost of fertilisers and other essential inputs. “What we are witnessing is not a result of increased productivity but government manipulation of market supply through hoarding and selective release of imported food,” the ADC said.

‘Weaponisation of Poverty’ and the Crisis of Local Production

The ADC accused the government of “weaponising hunger” by exploiting the people’s desperation for food to advance political interests. The party said the continued scarcity and volatility of food prices are not coincidental but a reflection of failed agricultural and economic planning.

“The Federal Government cannot claim to promote food security while destroying the very foundation of local production,” the statement read. It added that by allowing insecurity to fester in farming communities and failing to subsidise input costs, the administration has effectively crippled smallholder farmers who contribute the largest share of Nigeria’s food output.

The ADC further alleged that the government’s decision to hoard imported grains while citizens struggle to afford basic meals reflects “a deliberate strategy to keep people dependent and subdued.” It said such actions undermine national dignity and expose the government’s lack of empathy for the suffering masses.

ADC Calls for Overhaul of Agricultural Policy and Food Sovereignty

In its recommendations, the ADC urged the Federal Government to urgently reform its agricultural policies to ensure sustainability, fairness, and transparency. It called for immediate steps to secure farmlands, support displaced farmers, and stabilise food prices through targeted interventions that prioritise domestic production over import dependency.

“The time has come to move beyond propaganda and pursue genuine food sovereignty,” the party declared. “Nigeria must develop a long-term strategy that protects farmers, guarantees food affordability, and shields citizens from political manipulation disguised as economic reform.”

The ADC also called on civil society organisations, farmers’ associations, and opposition parties to jointly demand accountability from the government, warning that “a nation that cannot feed itself without fear or manipulation cannot claim to be free.”