Buhari: We’re making efforts to tackle rising food cost

President Muhammadu Buhari says efforts are being made to address the rising cost of food in the country.

The President said this in Abuja while declaring open the third Ministerial Performance Review Retreat organised to evaluate the level of progress made in the implementation of the Nine Priority Agenda of his administration.

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The President said: “We are exerting a lot of effort to solve the problem of the rising cost of food that is related to inflation, being a global crisis.”

According to the latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s inflation rose to 20.77 per cent in September.

Food inflation increased to 23.34 percent on a year-on-year basis; which was 3.77 per cent higher compared to the rate recorded in September 2021 (19.57%).

The bureau stated that food inflation was caused by increases in prices of “bread and cereals, food products like potatoes, yam, and other tuber, oil, and fat.

At the event, Buhari said high-impact projects had been implemented across the country, thereby meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

He highlighted progress made in the areas of agriculture, economy, infrastructure, security, health, anti-corruption among others.

President Buhari told participants and guests at the retreat including the Keynote Speaker and immediate past President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, that over 3,800 KM of roads had been constructed across the country, while 38 new aircraft were acquired for the Nigerian Air Force to boost the fight against insurgency.

Buhari also added that 38.7 million Nigerians had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, representing 35 per cent of the total eligible population target for vaccination.

On infrastructure, the President said: “In recognition of the importance of critical infrastructure in economic development and the quest of this administration to leave a lasting legacy, we have implemented high-impact projects across the length and breadth of the country that meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

“Some of the notable achievements include the completion of 326km Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line and railway ancillary facilities; the completion of over 156.5km Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway modernization project with extension to Lagos Port, Apapa.

“On road projects, this administration has constructed 408Km of roads; 2,499Km of SUKUK roads and maintenance of 15,961Km of roads across the country.

“Key among these projects are the construction of 1.9km 2nd Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta States with 10.30km approach road; rehabilitation, construction and expansion of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan dual carriageway; the ongoing rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Road, among others.”