Presidency dispels reports of food hike, explains prices coming down

The Presidency on Friday, September 11, slammed reports that the prices of food prices are spiralling.

According to a spokesman of the Presidency, Garba Shehu; the prices of food items in the country are dropping as a result of the agricultural reforms of the regime of the President Muhammadu Buhari.

Shehu made this known while making an appearance on a TV interview.

He explained that although prices may differ depending on the state and area; however, on the general, there is a drop in prices of food items.

The Presidency also explained the motive behind the President’s directive on Thursday that the Central Bank of Nigeria should with immediate effect stop the release of money for food and fertiliser importation.

He said President Buhari’s intentions are in the best interest of the country.

He said, “Nigerians must give consideration for the fact that the President’s directive to the CBN is driven by nothing other than a patriotic motive”.

According to Shehu, this directive falls in line with the President’s quest to boost agriculture in the country; a position to which some persons disagree; arguing that the CBN’s policies should not be imposed by a political authority.

Addressing those who hold the view that Buhari’s directive is overreaching, Shehu said, “I am not sure there is anywhere in the world that the Central Bank is So independent that it will operate as foreign ownership”.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, September 10, explained it was alarmed by the directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari to ministers to “go on the offensive;” against Nigerians in projecting its achievements.

This admonition against Buhari was contained in a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja.

He said “The PDP is alarmed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to officials of his administration to ‘go on the offensive;’ against Nigerians, who are patriotically crying out under the burden of economic hardship foisted on them by his insensitive; clueless; deceptive; and extremely corrupt administration.

“The PDP asserts that such a directive in a ministerial retreat which ought to be a problem-solving forum; is symptomatic of an administration that has become overwhelmed by the reality of its own failures; and now seeking desperate measures to suppress the voice of the people.

“Our Party declares that such anti-people stance amounts to a huge betrayal by President Buhari, who, before his elections; promised Nigerians an Eldorado; only to now turn around to label their cries and demands for good governance; security and basic necessities of life; particularly at the time they are agitating for reduction in the cost of fuel and electricity, as “irresponsible and politically motivated.”