Primate Elijah Ayodele, spiritual leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has issued a grave warning to President Bola Tinubu: “Hunger, not political opposition, is the biggest enemy facing your administration.” He called for swift, decisive action to curb surging food prices, which he says are eroding Nigerians’ trust in the government.
While inflation appears to be easing overall—with headline inflation declining from over 33% in mid-2024 to around 21.9% in July 2025—the cost of food remains a deep-seated crisis. Food inflation alone stood at 22.74% year-on-year in July 2025, a sharp descent from 39.53% a year earlier—thanks in part to statistical recalibration. Yet such figures still represent crushing daily realities for millions of Nigerians.
The SBM Jollof Index adds further perspective: the cost of cooking a single pot of jollof rice surged to ₦27,528—a 153% increase since March 2023—making it nearly 40% of Nigeria’s new minimum wage. Major staple prices like rice, onions, tomatoes, and peppers have also seen drastic hikes, with some households forced to skip meals or shift to less nutritious options.
On the agricultural frontline, climate change and insecurity are compounding the food crisis. Prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall are disrupting productivity, and over 31 million Nigerians currently face food insecurity. Insecurity—in states like Benue—has also depressed both crop and livestock outputs.
Workers themselves are sounding the alarm. The Nigeria Labour Congress and civil servants argue that the current ₦70,000 minimum wage, enacted in July 2024, simply cannot keep pace with rising costs. Several states, including Imo, Lagos, and Rivers, have already raised wages beyond the federal level.
Why This Matters
Economic Trust: When citizens can’t afford basic food, frustration escalates into unrest, threatening public confidence in the government.
Social Stability: Prolonged hunger can catalyze protests and disorder—demonstrated by the End bad governance protests of 2024.
Urgent Call: Primate Ayodele’s plea isn’t just moral—it echoes the lived reality of everyday Nigerians.
Your Take Matters:
➡️ “Do you believe hunger is President Tinubu’s greatest test right now? What should the government do—reduce food taxes, revive subsidies, boost farming, or rethink economic reforms?” Drop your thoughts in the comment box.
