President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reassured Nigerians that his administration is taking active steps to reduce the high cost of living, particularly with regard to food prices.
Speaking during the 64th Independence Day broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu acknowledged the widespread concerns over rising costs, both in Nigeria and globally.
“The central concern of our people today is the high cost of living, especially food costs. This concern is shared by many around the globe as prices and the cost of living continue to rise worldwide,” the President said. He assured Nigerians that his administration is implementing measures to address the situation and ease the financial burden on citizens.
Tinubu commended the governors of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Southwest states for embracing the Federal Government’s agricultural production programme. He urged other states to follow suit by investing in mechanised farming.
The President highlighted steps taken by his administration to support agriculture, including the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval to establish a local assembly plant for 2,000 John Deere tractors, along with combine harvesters and other farming equipment, which is expected to be completed within six months.
In addition, Tinubu discussed the government’s ongoing energy transition programme, emphasizing the expansion of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for mass transit. He noted that the Federal Government is prepared to assist states in acquiring CNG buses to provide cheaper public transportation options.
“While we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion,” Tinubu added, reinforcing his administration’s broader goals of economic stability and national unity.