Tinubu’s Food Security Reforms: A Reactionary Gimmick Driven by Fear, Not Empathy – ADC Fires Back.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

 

In what appears to be a desperate scramble to douse public anger amid Nigeria’s worsening food crisis, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent pronouncements on food security have been described by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as not only belated but driven by sheer fear of public backlash not empathy for the Nigerian people. While the President now talks tough about declaring food as a national emergency, the ADC has boldly called out this so-called reform agenda as a reactionary measure borne out of panic and not patriotism.

Nigerians are not fooled by press statements or cosmetic committee formations. They are HUNGRY. They are ANGRY. And above all, they are tired of being treated as STATISTICAL FOOTNOTES while the ruling elite feed fat on their agony. The skyrocketing prices of basic food items (garri, rice, beans, yam and even sachet water) have reached astronomical levels under this administration. This is not an ISOLATED MARKET DISTORTION. This is ECONOMIC SABOTAGE by NEGLECT.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), inflation in Nigeria climbed to 34.1% in May 2025, with food inflation surpassing 40%, a devastating record. Over 31 million Nigerians, according to the United Nations World Food Programme, face acute food insecurity. These are not abstract numbers. They are your neighbors, family members and colleagues skipping meals or relying on charity to stay alive.

Yet, for almost two years since assuming office, Tinubu failed to prioritize agriculture beyond policy papers. His administration’s obsession with neoliberal economic theories (from fuel subsidy removal to currency floating) has compounded rural poverty, destroyed purchasing power and dismantled any existing structure for agricultural resilience. Now, when the streets begin to simmer with rage and the organized labour threatens more strikes, the President suddenly ‘discovers’ food security?

The African Democratic Congress is right in calling out the President’s food emergency declaration as fear-induced. The ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, minced no words recently:

“A government that ignored farmers, refused to support rural infrastructure and watched as bandits chased thousands of agricultural workers from their land cannot now pretend to care about food security. Tinubu is reacting to fear, not responding with empathy.”

This statement is not mere political rhetoric. The reality on the ground confirms that Tinubu’s food reforms are cosmetic, reactive and fundamentally disconnected from the lived realities of Nigerians.

SECURITY and AGRICULTURE: A Broken Link
Perhaps the greatest irony of Tinubu’s food security posturing is his failure to secure the rural economy. More than 12 million Nigerians have been displaced since 2009 due to insecurity, especially in the Middle Belt and northern regions, the country’s agricultural backbone. Bandits, terrorists and herders operate with impunity while farmers abandon their lands.

Dr. Akinyemi Olabode, an agricultural economist at the University of Ibadan, recently noted:

“You cannot talk about food security in a war zone. The real food security policy should begin with guaranteeing physical safety for farmers. Until then, these reforms are academic exercises.”

Rather than increase investment in agro-policing or community farming protection schemes, Tinubu’s government has consistently slashed the budgets of the Ministry of Agriculture while spending billions on luxury foreign trips, meaningless jamborees and inflated solar panels for Aso Rock.

Where Was Tinubu When Farmers Cried?
When farmers across Benue, Zamfara, Kaduna, Plateau and parts of Delta State cried out over the loss of farmland and attacks by armed herdsmen, where was Tinubu? When rice and maize associations demanded subsidized inputs and protection against imported produce, where was his empathy?

Instead of responding to the agricultural sector with strategic foresight, the President continued to parade imported technocrats with zero practical knowledge of local food systems. Policies like the so-called “GREEN IMPERATIVE” and MECHANIZED AGRICULTURE BLUEPRINT were mere buzzwords without budgetary backing. The Anchor Borrowers Programme, which had shown some promise under past administrations, was left in bureaucratic limbo.

ADC’s Bold Alternative Vision.
In contrast, the ADC has consistently championed a grassroots-centered approach to food security. The party advocates for a Food Sovereignty Act that would protect local farmers, enhance state-level ago-cooperatives and legalize land ownership rights for smallholders. Rather than depend on private profiteers or foreign donors, the ADC calls for direct community budgeting and a return to Nigeria’s rich agrarian heritage.

“We must move beyond press releases and fight food poverty like we fought Ebola or COVID-19,” says ADC spokesperson, Hon. Adaobi Onyekachi. “Food is not just an economic issue; it is a national survival issue. A hungry population cannot be loyal, peaceful or productive.”

The ADC further accused Tinubu of failing to engage agricultural unions, rural communities or academic think tanks before hastily declaring a state of emergency. This top-down leadership style, the party argues, has always resulted in policy failure; from the fuel subsidy chaos to the botched student loan scheme.

Lip Service vs. Real Policy.
In practical terms, Tinubu’s food policy lacks substance. There is no clear IMPLEMENTATION ROAD MAP. No RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE BUDGET. No POST-HARVEST PRESERVATION or LOGISTICS plan. No MONITORING AGENCY with actual teeth. Declaring emergency is one thing. Translating it into sustainable food pricing, availability and affordability is quite another.

Moreover, the government’s continued failure to regulate the activities of middlemen and commodity hoarders remains a key driver of food inflation. Without breaking the monopolies of urban market cartels and empowering producer cooperatives, farmers will remain poor and food prices will keep soaring.

Public Sentiment: Tinubu’s Growing Disconnect.
Public opinion is rapidly shifting against the President. Many Nigerians now see him as arrogant, disconnected and elitist. The ADC’s rebuke taps into this public frustration. It reflects a growing consensus that Tinubu’s administration is out of touch with grassroots pain and more concerned about international image than national dignity.

“We voted for renewed hope. What we got is renewed hunger,” says Ngozi Ede, a Lagos market trader. “Every day my capital shrinks, my customers cry and Tinubu is still flying abroad talking about investment. If we die of hunger, who will invest in a graveyard?”

In Retrospect: Nigeria Needs Empathy, Not Emergency Rhetoric.
The time has passed for performative governance. Nigerians demand real empathy, not emergency declarations rooted in fear of revolt. Food security cannot be achieved through fear-driven policy announcements. It requires bold, inclusive and honest leadership qualities sorely missing in the Tinubu presidency.

The ADC has rightly exposed the hollow nature of this food security charade. Nigeria deserves a government that does not wait for protests to feed its people. A government that leads with compassion, not coercion. One that plans ahead, listens to its farmers, respects its poor and sees every hungry child as a national failure, not a political liability.

Tinubu may have declared food a national emergency, but Nigerians already know; HUNGER became a national tragedy the day leadership forgot its PEOPLE.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

ADC Tsunami Is Rocking Party Structures Across The North

In what many describe as ‘the ADC tsunami’

the entire structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yobe State has collapsed into the African Democratic Congress (ADC), leaving only the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, as the last man standing in the state.

The ADC’s takeover of PDP structures is part of a broader coalition-building effort ahead of the 2027 general elections. Reports indicate that PDP executives in Gombe and Adamawa states have also pledged loyalty to ADC, as the movement gains unprecedented traction across the North.

Confirming the development, Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said:

“The movement is gaining traction. A traction that will provide direction to ensure the coalition evolves into a formidable, robust, and viable platform.”

He described the coalition’s struggles as similar to newly married couples adjusting to each other, noting that with patience, they will become stronger and more united.

Political analysts say the defection has reduced PDP in Yobe to a shadow of its past glory, leaving Umar Damagum alone amidst its collapsed northern structure.

As the ADC steps up efforts to woo top politicians from PDP and APC, the mass defection in Yobe is a clear indicator of PDP’s deepening crisis, as the ADC continues to position itself as a formidable third force. Analysts warn that if this trend continues, the PDP may enter the 2027 elections significantly weakened in its northern strongholds.

For now, the image of Umar Damagum standing as the lone prominent PDP figure in Yobe paints a sorrowful picture of a party struggling to hold on to its fading influence.

The state assembly is the catalyst for the growth of Lagos and Nigeria’s economy”…Obasa

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa has declared unequivocally that Lagos State and, by extension, Nigeria’s economy have benefited immensely from the progressive, proactive, and productive legislature under his watch.

Obasa made this declaration at The Expatriates Business Awards (TEBA) held Sunday, July 6, at the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, where he was the Chief Host.

Organised by Pun Communications Ltd., the TEBA, an evening of culture and commerce where the handshakes of diplomacy meet the heartbeats of Nigerian creativity, celebrates the significant contributions of expatriates, ethnic businesses, and migrant communities to Lagos and Nigeria.

In his rousing welcome address to a diverse audience of diplomats, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs, Speaker Obasa spotlighted the state assembly, which he had led for the past decade, as an integral catalyst to Lagos’ economic growth for enacting laws that have created an enabling environment for businesses, attract investments, and foster sustainable economic growth.

Aside reviewing and amending laws to address emerging economic challenges and opportunities, the Speaker said the Assembly plays a crucial role in promoting economic development by enacting and overseeing laws that govern public procurement like the Public Procurement Law (2021), which regulates how the state procures goods and services and promotes transparency and accountability in government spending.

There is also the Appropriation Law for resource allocation for various development projects and initiatives, and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Law that facilitates collaboration between the public and private sectors to deliver projects like roads, power plants, and other essential infrastructure. The Speaker further mentioned the Land Use and Management Laws, which govern land use, development, and allocation, crucial for attracting investment and facilitating development projects.

To ensure the safety and security of Nigerians and foreigners alike, and boost the confidence of expatriates in coming to live and invest in Lagos, Obasa said, “We also created the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) to assist and complement the police by providing valuable intelligence for crime prevention and facilitating the arrest of perpetrators of criminal activities in the state.”

However, Speaker Obasa said that aside from the legislature, the state has benefited tremendously from being accommodating and receptive to foreigners. He recalled that this distinct nature of the state spurred a Portuguese explorer who was fascinated by the city’s strategic coastal location and trade potential to rechristen Eko as the state was then known to ‘Lagos.’

Over the centuries, Obasa noted that the incursion of expatriates into the evolving Lagos economy ensured that it enjoyed more rapid growth than any other Nigerian city, citing expatriates’ spending on housing, education, and leisure, among other areas of life as being a huge boost for local businesses.

He added, “As a centre for commerce, industry, and innovation, we have built a state where expats report a high quality of life, enjoying many luxuries not accessible back at home, and businesses and tourism thrive.

“Lagos also creates a fertile and enabling ground for expatriate involvement as their invaluable contributions span leadership in major companies, participation in key industries, contributions to professional services, and importation of international expertise.”

While acknowledging the importance of collaboration and unity in driving progress, fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and enhancing Lagos’s global standing, Speaker Obasa called for a more mutually beneficial partnership.

“This is a clarion call to our expatriates to continue playing their parts here by paying taxes and giving back to our people through veritable Corporate Social Responsibility activities. This is the only way we can have a mutually beneficial and harmonious relationship because your enterprises and initiatives are not just a boon for our state but, for all of Nigeria, Africa, and the world,” he posited.

Commending the organisers for their vision in highlighting and celebrating the impact of expatriates on Nigeria’s economy, Obasa encouraged the diverse guests to celebrate not only the winners but also the spirit of entrepreneurship.

He concluded, “Let us network, share ideas, and inspire one another as we continue to forge stronger ties within our diverse communities. Together, we can build a sustainable future that harnesses our collective strengths. With that, it gives me great honour to officially declare the Expatriates Business Awards open!