President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his regime is very concerned about the rising cost of foodstuff in the country.
Expressing concerns while appearing before the Senate on Friday, Mr Buhari said his regime was implementing various measures towards addressing structural factors responsible for the food crisis.
“Government is very concerned about the high food prices in the country. Various measures are being implemented to address structural factors underlying the issue. We’ll also step-up current efforts aimed at boosting food production and distribution in the country,” Mr Buhari said.
His remarks come as Nigerians continue to feel the burning effects of rising food prices brought on by the impact of inflation.
The average cost of five kilograms of cooking gas increased from N4,397.68 in July to N4,456.56 in August according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics.(NBS)
The price of turkey, a popular protein diet in Nigerian dishes increased to N3,200 per kilo in stores as food scarcity occasioned by the pluming economy. However, the price has since continued to rise as inflation continues to increase.
According to NBS, food inflation in September increased to 23.12 per cent, its highest level in nearly 17 years, while core inflation increased to 17.2 per cent.