The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a strong critique of President Bola Tinubu's administration, highlighting the government's inability to tackle the escalating cost of food in Nigeria. This criticism comes in the wake of recent inflation data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which indicated a marginal decline in headline inflation from 15.91% in June to 15.43% in July.

Despite this slight decrease, the ADC pointed out that food inflation has surged significantly, rising from 17.52% in June to 20.31% in July on a year-on-year basis. Furthermore, month-on-month food inflation increased from 3.75% to 5.56% during the same period. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, expressed concern that the government's focus on headline inflation figures does not reflect the harsh realities faced by many Nigerians struggling to afford basic food items.

Abdullahi emphasized that the administration's economic reforms have yet to yield tangible benefits for ordinary citizens. He stated, "The Tinubu government has run out of ideas. The government’s focus should not be on celebrating headline inflation figures while Nigerians struggle with rising food prices. What matters is whether ordinary Nigerians can afford basic food items, not just statistical improvements on paper."

The ADC also linked the rising food prices to a broader issue of food insecurity, citing a report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that estimates 35 million Nigerians are currently experiencing acute food insecurity. The party challenged the government to explain the disconnect between its economic policies and the increasing difficulty for citizens to access affordable food.

In its statement, the ADC urged the government to recognize when its strategies are ineffective and to adopt new measures to alleviate the hardships faced by the populace. The party proposed that food security be treated as a national security issue, advocating for increased food production and affordability in farming.

To achieve this, the ADC called for initiatives aimed at reducing the costs associated with fertilizers, seeds, machinery, diesel, transportation, and access to finance for farmers. Additionally, the party identified insecurity as a significant barrier to food production, asserting that farmers cannot effectively cultivate or transport their produce without safety.

The ADC further recommended that the government improve infrastructure to facilitate the movement of food from farms to markets, addressing issues related to poor roads, high transportation costs, and excessive levies. They suggested establishing a transparent national food reserve and strategic buffer system to manage food prices effectively, allowing the government to purchase from farmers when prices drop and release essential items when prices soar.

While the Tinubu administration may highlight falling headline inflation as a sign of economic progress, the ADC insists that Nigerians will continue to measure the economy's health by the prices they pay for food.