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By Oscar Okhifo
Presidential aide Daniel Bwala says rice is no longer a luxury item for Nigerians, declaring that the Tinubu administration’s food security policies have made the staple more accessible and affordable across all segments of society.
Speaking during an interview with DW Africa on Friday, Bwala highlighted food security and healthcare delivery as key areas where the Tinubu-led government has made tangible and verifiable progress in the last year.
According to him, the removal of tariffs on essential food commodities, including rice, maize, wheat, and sorghum, played a pivotal role in breaking the grip of monopolies and easing the cost of food staples for the average Nigerian.
“In the past few months, Nigerians have seen improvements in food access, particularly rice, across the board. The Tinubu administration took bold steps that disrupted price manipulation by grain cartels. Today, rice is available and affordable to Nigerians at all levels,” Bwala said.
The development, according to Bwala follows an executive directive issued by President Tinubu in August 2024, suspending import duties on key food items for an initial six-month period. The policy led to significant private-sector imports of rice and other grains by firms such as BUA Group, contributing to a sharp decline in prices.
He also said that Market surveys in June and July show that the price of a 50kg bag of rice dropped from over ₦100,000 to between ₦60,000 and ₦65,000 in several urban centers, with some federal allocations reportedly pegged at even lower prices.
“In addition to private sector initiatives, the federal government also distributed over 700 truckloads of rice to all 36 states and the FCT, aimed at cushioning the effects of food inflation and addressing hunger across the country.”
Bwala maintained that the Government remains focused on stabilizing food prices while ensuring that Nigerians, regardless of status or location, can access basic food items.
While applauding the achievement, stakeholders have raised concerns about the sustainability of the initiative and the potential impact on local rice farmers.
Observers say the Government must strike a balance between short-term relief through imports and long-term investment in local production to ensure food self-sufficiency.
Nonetheless, Bwala insists that the policies are already yielding results, and more structural reforms are underway to consolidate the gains