The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the federal government of “deliberate dishonesty” over its claims of increased local food production, arguing that widespread insecurity and the displacement of farmers make such assertions untrue.
The party said thousands of farmers—especially across northern Nigeria—remain displaced by bandit attacks, while those still cultivating the land face unbearable production costs.
Many, it added, can no longer afford fertilisers or other key inputs needed to sustain farming.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said government officials were “manipulating food prices and weaponising hunger for political gains.”
It described as “strange and dishonest” the claim that food production is increasing at a time when the rural economy is collapsing under insecurity.
“How can production be increasing when the cost of planting is now beyond the reach of the average farmer?” the party asked.
According to the ADC, the reported reduction in food prices is artificial—driven by government import waivers that have flooded the market with cheap foreign produce.
The party warned that this short-term measure could destroy the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who are already facing record-high input costs.
The statement argued that the government’s economic narrative is divorced from the real experiences of farmers and households across the country. “Contrary to what is being celebrated in official circles, the reality on the ground is grim,” the ADC said.
It accused the Tinubu administration of hoarding imported food while millions go hungry, calling it “a calculated political act designed to maintain control through deprivation.”
A Demand for Policy Reset
The ADC urged a complete overhaul of the government’s agricultural strategy, calling for policies that protect local production, stabilise food prices, safeguard farmers’ lives, and ensure long-term food sovereignty.
The party proposed stronger support for cooperative farming schemes, state-managed fertiliser banks, and the establishment of rural security task forces to protect agricultural zones.
The federal government has not yet issued an official response. But some pro-government economists argue that the temporary import waivers were necessary to stabilise prices amid global inflation, noting that “the shock of insecurity should not halt the pursuit of economic balance.”
Still, the ADC insists the administration’s policies are deepening dependence on foreign imports rather than promoting food self-sufficiency.
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