On Friday, Sunday Dare, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, tried to claim the president’s policies were making food cheaper.

In a post he shared via his X page, he stated that alongside the prices of fuel being stabilised, the prices of major food items like maize, millet, rice, ginger and sorghum had dropped.

Dare said this data was obtained from the Kasuwan Dawanau in Kano, the biggest international grains market in West Africa.

“Tinubunomics continues to impact positively on both the economy and Nigerian citizens. Price inflation of most foodstuffs is being reversed. Prices of major foodstuffs are dropping. PMS prices are stabilising,” Dare claimed.

READ ALSO: UPDATED: Inflation Rate Hits 34.80%

“Kasuwan Dawanau in Kano, North West is the biggest international grains market in West Africa. Millet, maize, rice, sorghum, and Ginger. Situated along 5 major Nigerian borders is back and thriving again.”

The special adviser, who did not explain how he measured the prices, claimed that maize which was previously N120,000 was down to N70,000. FIJ’s calculations show this is a 41.67% price reduction.

He added that onions, which were previously N220,000, sold at N60,000, a 72.73% decrease.

Dare’s claims of a decline in food inflation have sparked reactions among Nigerians on X. Some accused him and the Tinubu-led administration of being disconnected from the reality of the average Nigerian, while others said he was mocking struggling citizens

These figures posted by the special adviser claimed a huge decline in food inflation.

Karo said, “The price of a bag of rice before Tinubunomics was less than N20,000. Why do you people work so hard in deceiving your gullible supporters?”

Ugulu wrote, “Stop mocking Nigerians. It is an insult to Nigerians to be licking the [boots] of the man who unleashed hardship on them for his desperation and selfish interest. Nigerians are suffering, and over 100 million do not know the source of their next meal. Maybe the price is getting better for Tinubu and his hangers-on.”

North Star, another user, wrote, “Of all the things you listed here which one is below N50,000 and how much is the minimum wage? No disrespect but you’re disconnected from the common Nigerian, try and come out, and relate with people. Touch the grass outside, and see what people go through daily at least. It’ll help you gain clarity on what to post. Do better and think twice before making some posts.”

READ ALSO: Nigerians Pay Triple for Food 17 Months After Tinubu’s Initial Food Security Declaration

WHAT DOES THE STATS SAY?

Using data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), FIJ checked the latest food watchlist published by the body, to verify the authenticity of Dare’s claims.

Earlier in January, the NBS announced that the food inflation figures moved from 33.93% in December 2023 to 39.84% in December 2024.

Breaking it down per the selected food items, on the national scale, NBS data shows that a bowl of rice cost N1,959 in November and N1,944 in December. The inflation rate was only reduced by 0.79%.

Also, for onion, another item highlighted Dare, a single bulb was sold for N1,878 in November. By December, it had increased to N2,057. This is an increment of 9.57%.

Furthermore, the price of tomatoes as of November was N1,472 and N1,452 by December.

In November, yellow and white maize were priced at N910 and N878 but dropped to N884 and N822 in December. Despite the drop, yellow maize decreased by only 2.86%, while white maize saw a 6.38% price reduction.

The NBS data contradicts the special adviser’s claim of a sharp drop in food inflation. It also does not reflect the national prices of food items and a better purchasing power as purported with his post.

In December, FIJ reported how Nigerians paid three times more for food several months after Tinubu’s declaration of a food emergency.