FG Urges Retailers To Reduce Food Prices
The Federal Government has urged food retailers to adjust prices of such items to reflect the recent drop in food costs so that Nigerians will benefit from the relief.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Abubakar Kari, made the appeal at the 2025 Wheat Farmers Green Field Day in Ringim LGA of Jigawa State, organized by the Jigawa State government.
The Minister criticized retailers and traders for failing to pass on the cost reductions to consumers, describing such practice as “unpatriotic.”
“The Federal Government is aware of the significant drop in food prices across major markets, particularly essential commodities like flour, sugar, rice, and spaghetti,” he said.
He noted that despite the reduction, many retailers, bakers, and shop owners still refused to lower their selling prices, denying Nigerians the economic relief they deserve.
“For example, the price of flour has dropped from N81,000 per bag to below N60,000, while spaghetti has reduced from N20,000 to N15,000. It is only fair that consumers benefit from these reductions,” Kari emphasized.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment towards ensuring food affordability and vowed to continue engaging stakeholders to address price discrepancies.
“Exploiting consumers during a time of relief is unacceptable. Retailers must reflect current market realities in their pricing,” he warned.
As part of its support for farmers, the Federal Government announced a donation of N5 billion worth of agricultural equipment and inputs to Jigawa State. These include 10,000 water pumping machines, 10,000 sprayers, 10,000 liters of herbicides, another 10,000 liters of insecticides, and 10,000 bags of organic fertilizer.
Governor Umar Namadi commended the federal government for its ongoing support, highlighting that Jigawa’s transformation in wheat production began last year with an allocation of subsidized agricultural inputs to 8,000 farmers.
He revealed that the state government had provided a N2.2 billion loan to support 16,454 farmers, with an impressive 80% repayment rate. The initiative, he noted, generated over N8 billion in revenue for the state’s economy.
With these interventions, both the state and federal governments reaffirm their commitment to enhancing food security and stabilizing market prices for the benefit of all Nigerians.
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