Tinubu Concerned Over Rising Cost of Food Items, Essential Drugs; Nigerians Blame Him

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed serious concern over the rising cost of food and essential drugs in the country.

The Nigerian president bared his mind in his New year message to Nigerians on January 1, 2025.

Tinubu, in the message sent to the citizens, to usher in the New year disclosed that his administration is on top of the situation, and is doing everything to push down the cost of food items and essential drugs.

He made known his administration’s  efforts to address problems in other sector of the  nation’s economy with the aim of bringing succour to Nigerians.

According to him, the cost of food items have remained high despite investment and expansion in the nation’s economy.

Apart from the cost of food commodities, Nigerians have cried out that cost of on-the- counter and prescribed drugs have become unaffordable.

For instance, some Nigerians living with AIDS and HIV recently appealed to the administration to intervene in bringing down the cost of retroviral drugs, which has become to high for them.

On their part, dealers of pharmaceuticals in the country blamed the high exchange rate of the dollar to naira.

Despite government’s efforts, “the cost of food and essential drugs remained a significant concern for many Nigerian households in 2024,” the president affirmed.

Adding that “In 2025, our government is committed to intensifying efforts to lower these costs by boosting food production and promoting local manufacturing of essential drugs and other medical supplies. We are resolute in our ambition to reduce inflation from its current high of 34.6% to 15%. With diligent work and God’s help, we will achieve this goal and provide relief to all our people.”

The magazine reported that the cost of food items in the country have hit the rooftops, forcing many families and households into their wits end, even as the administration critics insist that there’s  no end in sight to the hardship and  frustration after the government said it will push for more economic reforms.

The Tinubu administration’s economic reform policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy, convergence of the exchange rates of the naira, among others are responsible for the current inflation in the country, critics said.