Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, says the Federal Government is aware of the rising cost of staple foods in the markets.
He made this revelation during the 2024 conference and annual general meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Niger State chapter, held in Minna on Tuesday.
The conference theme centered around “Public Relations in a Challenging Environment: The Role of Stakeholders and Communication in a New Niger Agenda.”
Represented by Malam Jibrin Ndace, Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Idris stated that concrete measures are being implemented to address the situation.
He mentioned that the President has instructed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Department of State Services (DSS), and Inspector General of Police (IGP) to collaborate with state governors in overseeing actions against those stockpiling food items, aiming to enforce price regulations.
“On behalf of the Federal Government, I applaud the effort of Niger State Gov. Umaru Bago, for his timely decision to halt bulk buying of food items for hoarding.
“This no doubt helped in the recent reduction of the cost of food items in the state,” he said.
He mentioned that over the past seven months, the president has been diligently addressing various issues including economic recovery, combating insecurity, attracting foreign direct investment, and reinforcing Nigeria’s foreign policy principles on the global platform.
The minister affirmed that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda steadfastly upholds Nigeria’s status as a prominent African nation.
Dr. Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger, expressed his confidence in the revitalization of NIPR and anticipated that the chapter would emerge as a leader in its field.