A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has said that the hike in food prices is becoming worrisome and unbearable for the masses in the country.
Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, said this while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo.
The APC chieftain said the cost of foodstuffs has increased significantly, making it difficult for the masses to afford good meals.
He said there was an urgent need for government at all levels to come to the rescue of the masses by providing solutions to the challenge.
“The rise in food prices is mostly caused by insecurity, high cost of transportation of the products, climate change, and the instability of the exchange rate of naira,” he said.
Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, added that the astronomical rise in the food prices had battered the purchasing power of citizens, leading to uncertainty, an increase in poverty, and a high cost of living.
He said that with food as a primary resource for human survival, the government at every level should undertake tangible programmes to defeat hunger in the land.
According to him, “a recent survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also confirmed that food prices have risen by over 100 per cent”.
Oyintiloye said the 2023/24 General Household Survey-Panel, commonly called (GHS-Panel), launched on November 25, 2024, in Abuja, revealed that “65.8 per cent of the households were unable to eat healthy, nutritious, or preferred foods because of low income”.
The APC chieftain said that while the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is doing everything possible to bring down the food prices, many Nigerians are still struggling to eat three square meals.
Oyintiloye said that despite the food waiver policy being implemented by the Federal Government and the Central Bank’s intervention to curb inflation through the monetary policy, the prices of foodstuff is still on a very high side
“The exchange rate fluctuations further exacerbate this issue, particularly affecting the prices of imported food items.
“The situation on the prices of food is becoming worrisome and extremely unbearable for the masses.
“Many households can no longer afford nutrition meals, while many are begging for survival. This is pathetic and no longer bearable for the masses.
“I urge governors and the Federal Government to intensify efforts to stop further increase in the cost of food items. The situation may worsen if factors leading to the increase are left unattended to.”