In today’s Nigeria, food is no longer just about taste, it’s about survival. Walk into any market, from Mile 12 in Lagos to Yankaba in Kano, and you’ll hear the same tired sighs from shoppers: “How did garri become more expensive than noodles?”
A bag of rice now swallows half a month’s salary, tomatoes cost more than imported spaghetti, and even the humble loaf of bread has become a luxury item.
Families that once gathered around steaming pots of jollof rice now ration their meals, cutting portions, skipping proteins, and in some cases, skipping meals entirely.
This isn’t just about hunger, it’s about dignity. When a parent cannot afford to feed their children, governance is no longer measured in policies or press releases, but in plates of food on the table. And that is why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s latest move has set the nation buzzing: a direct, aggressive attempt to crash food prices before they completely crush households.
Tinubu’s Emergency Measures: From Talk to Action
The Presidency announced a new set of interventions designed to bring down food inflation, not in months, but in weeks. The plan includes:
* Tax Cuts on Staples: Reduced import levies on rice, poultry, fish, and wheat.
* Food Reserve Release: Grains from national silos will hit markets at subsidized rates.
* Zero VAT on Key Goods: No VAT on tomato paste, seasoning cubes, and other everyday essentials.
* Farmer and Trader Support: ₦5 billion allocated to farmers and vendors to keep supply chains flowing.
* Subsidized Transport: ₦250 billion to ease fuel and transport costs for food distribution.
The goal is simple: make food affordable again and restore a sense of relief to struggling households.
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Why This Matters: More Than Just Prices
Nigeria is a country where 70% of household income goes to food. When costs spike, it’s not just about inflation charts, it’s about whether families eat or starve.
This battle over food is political, economic, and deeply personal. Tinubu’s measures are not just a technocratic policy fix; they are a test of his government’s ability to connect directly to the daily struggles of citizens.
Market Reactions: Hope Meets Skepticism
Already, markets are responding with cautious optimism. In Jos, traders say prices of imported rice have dropped by ₦200 in a day. In Lagos, Mile 12 shoppers welcomed the VAT cut, but one vendor warned: “Until transport costs fall, nothing really changes.” Farmers in Benue expressed relief at the promised grants, but also suspicion: “Will the money reach us, or vanish in Abuja?”
The Stakes: Tinubu’s Political Capital on the Line
This is not just about meals; it’s about legitimacy. If Nigerians see cheaper prices in real time, Tinubu wins credibility. If not, the measures will be dismissed as another hollow promise, deepening distrust.
Dinner as Democracy
Food is more than fuel; it’s political power. A government that cannot feed its people risks losing their faith.
Tinubu’s plan has made headlines, but the real test will come when families across Nigeria gather at the dinner table. If that table feels full again, then this policy is not just economic reform, it’s political salvation.
