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Residents groan over soaring prices of foodstuff in Kaduna, Kano, others

Published

2 years ago

July 1, 2024

Foodstuffs

Residents groan over soaring prices of foodstuff in Kaduna, Kano, others

In tune with the extant global trends, Nigeria is experiencing an unprecedented increase in the cost of basic food items.

Findings by the News Agency of Nigeria Correspondents in Kaduna, Kano and Katsina States have shown that Nigeria was not an exception.

For instance, a check conducted by NAN in Kaduna revealed that the surge was particularly notable in the prices of rice, bread, sugar, garri, beef and eggs, amongst others, which are staples in most homes.

Also, the rising cost has had an impact in the living standard of the residents as the majority of the homes now find it formidably challenging to afford three square meals.

NAN also gathered from the Abubakar Gumi Central market and other markets within Kaduna city that the price of Mama Gold rice had risen to about N75,500 per bag, while a 50kg Stallion, Optimum brands now sell from N77,000 to N80,000.

Also, a loaf of bread was now being sold between N1,000 and N2,500 depending on the brand and quality.

A measure (mudu) of ‘white garri’ that used to sell for N400 was now sold for between N1200. while a measure of ‘yellow garri’ sold for N600 now goes for between N1300 and N1,500.

Similarly, a crate of egg that was selling for N3000 hitherto, now sells for between N4,000 and N4,500 depending on the size.

Also, a kilogram of meat (beef) formerly sold for N3,000 before was now being sold at N5,000.

Meanwhile, farmers in parts of the state have attributed the high costs of foodstuffs to the fuel subsidy removal.

Some of the farmers who spoke to NAN in separate interviews in Kafanchan blamed the hike in the prices of foodstuffs on the high cost of transportation, occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

Ishaya Chingali, a large-scale farmer, said inflation had also led to the high cost of farm inputs like fertilizers and herbicides.

“If they can take care of the cost of transportation, the high cost of food stuff will be addressed by 50 percent,” he stated.

On his part, Kure Kade, President, Organic Ginger Farmers Association, said the only way out was for the government to subsidize farm inputs.

He said Nigeria was capable of feeding itself without necessarily importing any food stuff.

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In a related development, the Kaduna State Government said it had distributed farm inputs, farm implements as well as agro-processing equipment to 40,000 smallholder farmers to boost food production.

Murtala Dabo, the Commissioner, Ministry for Agriculture, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

The items were distributed under the government’s ‘A Koma Gona’ (Back to Farm) initiative.

According to him, the programme targets beneficiaries in the 23 local government areas of the state.

He said the state was the largest producer of ginger, maize, as well as tomatoes in the country, lamenting that the farmers suffered post-harvest losses such as tomatoes and ginger.

Dabo assured that the state government would revisit the now stalled tomato processing plant in Ikara to address the losses suffered by tomato farmers in the area and other surrounding local governments.

He said, “Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, providing employment and sustaining livelihoods.

The state is blessed with huge agricultural potential
“Smallholder farmers and small-scale agro-processors have been facing difficulties due to the current economic challenges in the country.

”This category of farmers is very critical in our quest to ensure food security.

“It is for this reason that the government has come up with the ‘Tallafin Noma – A Koma Noma’ as part of our Sustainable Livelihoods through Social Interventions and Economic Empowerment Initiative.

“Under this “A Koma Gona” (Get Back to Farm) component, the Ministry for Agriculture was mandated to target a minimum of 40,000 smallholder farmers and farmers’ cooperatives across the 23 LGAs.”

According to Dabo, the ‘Tallafin Noma programme’ includes the distribution of inputs for crop and livestock production, crop production, improved maize seeds, agrochemicals, NPK and Urea fertilizers.

“For livestock production (poultry), 30 day-old chicks with four bags of feed and drugs are distributed, while 50 jumbo juveniles (catfish) with two bags of feed and drugs are distributed for fisheries.

“To boost micro-mechanisation of the agriculture sector in the state, power tillers and accessories were distributed to farmer cooperative groups.

“This is a crucial step towards increasing production and productivity in our farms,”he added.

The commissioner added that ‘Knapsack’ sprayers with Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) were also given to the farmers for agrochemical and liquid fertilizer application on their farms.

“For the agro-processors, vegetable grinders are distributed to individuals, while hammer mills, haulers and threshers are distributed to cooperative groups as group assets.

“These processing machines would add value to our agricultural produce and improve the livelihoods of individuals and groups involved in agro-processing activities,”Dabo said.

To reduce herder-farmer conflicts in the state, he said the state government has commenced the Livestock Development Project (L-PRES).

He said bringing the project to the state had also helped to tackle the frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

Dabo said that the project would focus on the component of conflict management aimed at finding a lasting solution to the problem.

Meanwhile, a farmer in Kaduna State has appealed to the government at all levels to enhance agricultural mechanization.

He also urged them to replace the animal-drawn plough system for land preparation and other agricultural production processes to boost food security and wealth generation.

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Ahmed Abubakar, a member of the Albarka-Shika Farmers Cooperative Society, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria.

He said, “Farming is a business; the government at sub-national levels should woo and entice youths by providing simple labour saving devices in farming to strengthen production.

“These tools and devices are not affordable to many youths and small-scale farmers; we are in the 21st century,so, it is high time to do away with cutlasses and hoes and embrace full-scale mechanized agriculture.

“Bandits and other criminal elements would not allow the small -scale farmers to keep cattle for traditional plough.

“If the farmers have these machines at their homes, it will not be easily stolen like cattle,’’ he said.

Mr Abubakar said the initial intervention by the Federal Government for wheat farmers under dry season farming had gladdened the hearts of the farmers across the state.

Mr Abubakar said no fewer than 10,000 farmers received improved wheat seed varieties, herbicides and fertilizer and other inputs for cultivation of a one hectare field at 50 per cent discount.

He, however, said that the gesture had greatly increased the production of wheat in Kaduna State during the last season.

The farmer added that the intervention, which assisted many peasant farmers in the state, had also rekindled their hope as the Federal Government was set to replicate the support to additional 40,000 maize and rice farmers.

He said the 40, 000 farmers who were registered by the Federal Government through the Kaduna State Agricultural Development Agency (KADA) for the dry season farming of rice and maize did not receive the inputs.

However, Abubakar said there were insinuations that the cohorts captured for dry season intervention would receive the inputs for wet season farming alongside other commodity growers; saying, ” this also has not been materialized.

“It is an established fact that the early distribution of inputs to farmers boosts production and increases wealth generation to farmers.

“The major problems are insecurity and high cost of inputs,’’ Abubakar said.
He lamented the delay in the distribution of the fertilizer donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to him, the delay in the distribution of the inputs by the government and high inflation rate in the country had increased the cost of fertilizer and other inputs, which have a “devastating effect on food security.”

While speaking on the policy of the Federal Government on the all-year round food production, Abubakar lamented, ” Beside the pronouncement, we are yet to see any tangible effort of the government on this.”
He added that dry season farming was done with water from the stream and dams.

Abubakar said, “But the available dams were not desilted, new ones were not created while modern equipment and other simple labour saving devices were also not put in place.”

Abubakar, therefore, urged the governments at sub-national level to increase efforts on providing improved quality seeds to the farmers, which is the bedrock of sustainable food production.

He said the Institute for Agricultural Research used to provide one of the cheapest high quality seeds to the farmers, decrying, ” Now the prices of such improved seeds have skyrocketed.

“ In private seed companies, the cost of improved maize seed per hectare ranges between N64, 000 to N120, 000; hence the need for government’s intervention on this and other inputs.
“Government should enhance the reintroduced GES and totally abolish the anchor borrowers’ scheme,’’ he said.

Corroborating, Nuhu Aminu, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Kaduna State Chapter lamented that banditry and kidnapping were major impediments to food security in the state.

He said the recent abduction of Ashiru Sherehu, Village Head, Tunburku, Giwa LGA, Kaduna State at his farm on Saturday indicated the impact of worsening insecurity to agriculture and food security.

He said that sustainable agricultural growth and development can only be achieved in an environment that was secure and peaceful.

According to him, insecurity in northern parts of Kaduna has threatened food production in the state as most of the large-scale farmers have abandoned their farms in areas such as Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and Igabi LGAs.

“The few that sustain farming now scavenged on little small-scale farms around Soba, Kubau, Ikara , Makarfi and Kudan LGAs,”he added.

Aminu commended the Federal Government for subsidising inputs for dry season farming through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS –AP) initiative.

He, however, urged the government to sustain and upscale the initiative to strengthen food security and job creation.

According to him, the NAGS-AP was one of the best government initiatives that target smallholder farmers, thereby improving food production.

Nuhu Aminu, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN)Kaduna State chapter, attributed the high cost of food items in the state to inadequate and late supply of farm inputs.

Aminu made the assertion during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

He explained that the farmers were not able to start farming early even with the rains due to the high cost of fertilizer and the late distribution of seedlings and pesticides among others.

“This led to poor yields causing the peasant farmers to sell their surplus produce to middlemen who now determine the prices in markets.

“But, with the Federal Government’s initiative to distribute farm inputs to the farmers this year using their mobile phones, we are hopeful that there will be bountiful harvests, ” he said.

Mr Aminu said the Federal Government has commenced the distribution of farm inputs to the farmers in some local governments of the state, adding that more farmers would be captured in the programme.

Aminu explained that the items included fertilizer, pesticides and seedlings which would be given at subsidized prices to the farmers, with the Federal Government paying half the price of the items.

” This will help bring down the prices of food items, “he said.

In a bid to secure the farmers and the farms, the Police Command in Kaduna State Government has donated 100 motorcycles to it.

The command also said it has has p in place elaborate plans to secure farmlands for the farmers to farm without fearing any security threats.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the gesture by Gov. Uba Sani was aimed at further protecting farmers across the state.

According to Hassan, the motorcycles had since been distributed to the Divisional Police Officers in the affected areas where farmers are no longer apprehensive to go to the farms.

He said the essence was to make sure that the farmers were protected in their farmlands when farming in the insecurity-prone areas of the state.
Hassan said the plain-clothes security personnel and vigilance services were part of the plan.

He said that the initiative would boost the farmers’ morale to troop to the farms without harbouring any fear.
He said that the Commissioner of Police,Mr Ali Dabigi, has a lot of plans with the support of the state government, saying that they would yield positive results.

In Kano State, some agriculture experts have advised the Federal Government to engage in discussions with farm produce marketers and large-scale farmers to curb the soaring food prices in the country.

Some of the experts spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Kano on measures to stem the tide of skyrocketing food prices and roof-top inflation.

Alhaji Nasiru Musa, the Managing Director of ANS farms limited, said that engaging legitimate farm-produce marketers and large-scale farmers was the simple and feasible solution to the soaring food prices.

According to him, it is very difficult to differentiate between foodstuff hoarders and large-scale farmers and legitimate farm-produce marketers who have large warehouses where they keep their commodities before distributing them to other parts of the country.

He advised the government at all levels to purchase the foodstuffs in large quantities directly from the large-scale farmers and resell them to the masses at affordable rates throughout all the local government areas.

“I appeal to the government also to discourage bulk purchases by individuals or groups, by doing this, the prices of food can be controlled to some extent and food will reach the poor,” he said.

Abubakar Sani, a retired director, state ministry of Agriculture, who also called on federal government to sit with large-scale farmers particularly in the North, said that farm products were being exported to neighbouring African countries due to the weak value of the Naira
He further urged federal and state governments to support farmers with solar-powered pumps, fertilisers, seeds, extension services, pesticides, among others.

Mahmud Garba, a lecturer, explained that rising cost of living and escalating food prices have been the main challenge that the majority of Nigerians were battling with at the moment.

According to him, the rise in the cost of staple food and other products has affected the purchasing power of many Nigerians, as it is now very difficult for the majority of households to afford daily meals.

Sanusi Bature, Director General Media to the Kano State Governor, said that the state governor had approved the procurement of fertiliser, valued at over N5bn, to show the state’s commitment to food sufficiency, through agricultural transformation.

He said that the move was in fulfillment of Yusuf’s campaign promise to support smallholder farmers, especially in rural areas, toward a high yield of crops in the 2024 rainy season.

“The fertiliser approved for purchase will complement those already produced by the state-owned Kano Agricultural Supply Company and would be made available to farmers at a subsidized price within the state.

“Gov. Yusuf had previously purchased grains, worth billions of naira and distributed them to the vulnerable people in the state, to cushion the economic hardship faced by a significant number of people in the state,” he said.

On economy,Abdulfatah Adewale, a financial expert also advised the Federal Government to explore the reduction of taxes and duties and support the consumption of locally produced goods and services to address the economic challenges facing Nigerians.

He urged the federal government to come up with fiscal policies like tax reduction to encourage companies to invest, expand and employ more workers.

Adewale also Advised the government to equally reduce the duties paid by importers on some goods, give incentives to consumers of locally produced products and pump in money into the system.

In Katsina, a cross section of the residents of Katsina metropolis expressed concern over the continued hike in the prices of foodstuffs and other goods in the state.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina, the residents said the hike in prices of foodstuffs, coupled with other economic hardship has pushed many people into poverty and hunger.

Malam Ibrahim Isma’il, a civil servant, said before the current hardship, his salary can sustain him to another salary, but now it can not provide his family with food for two-weeks.

A trader, Bala Baba said, “To be honest with you, life is difficult for many of us, because business is no longer moving because of the economic hardship, and our businesses are collapsing.

During a visit to some of the markets in the city, NAN reports that the quantity of Maize (mudu) which was sold a few months ago at N1,200, is now N1,600.

The local rice sold at N3,600, is now N4,000, beans sold at N3,400 per measure, is now N4,800, while a measure of cereal sold at N1,600 is now N2,200.

Also at Chake market, a bag of maize is sold at N89,500, cereal at N86,000, millet N88,000, beans N165,000, Suyer beans N89,500, while a bag of local rice is N58,000.

Although some of the residents attributed the hardship to the current economic situation in the state, some said the insecurity also is contributing.

NAN recalls that recently, the Katsina State government in an effort to boost the agricultural sector, recruited 722 extension workers and provided them with motorcycles and other equipment.

During the event, Gov. Dikko Radda said, “Second way of fighting poverty is to improve productivity.

Agriculture is our major occupation, that’s why we created Katsina State Irrigation authority.

“The aim is to have all year-round irrigation farming in the state, that will reduce redundancy, and keep everybody busy.

He pointed out that to achieve or increase productivity , farmers have to be sensitised on farming as a business.
According to the governor, when he came to power, there were only 72 extension workers in the state.
“We gave each of them a motorcycle and other equipment to enable them move around to enlighten farmers on the way to improve their productivity.
“We also launched the sales of about 20,000 metric tons of fertilizer to farmers in the state at a very subsidised price.
“These are some of the things that we are putting in place to engage the farmers, the youths and the locals to be more productive, reduce the level of poverty and improve their livelihood.”
The governor also revealed that the state government, through the KT-CARES, has supported over 6,100 farmers in the state.
NAN also reports that recently, the state government in collaboration with an NGO, Mercy Corps embarked on herder-farmer conflict resolution, especially across some front-line areas.
The dialogue, organised through the Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation in North-West Nigeria (CMCR-NW) project.
was aimed at promoting locally-driven peace initiatives through interest-based negotiation.
Speaking at the event, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Prof. Ahmed Bakori, said the dialogue was a necessary sequel to the prevalence of such conflicts during the rainy season.
“This situation poses a challenge to safe farming and grazing activities, and affects agricultural activities leading to minimal harvests and overall output.
“It then becomes imperative for stakeholders to brainstorm and design appropriate strategies to prevent and where possible mitigate tensions during the forthcoming farming season.
“With this development, farming activities across the front line areas will hold for this rainy season,” Bakori assured.

Residents groan over soaring prices of foodstuff in Kaduna, Kano, others
NAN

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Atiku to Tinubu: Cut Fuel Prices, Let Nigerians Breathe

Published

1 hour ago

September 18, 2026

Trends Admin

Atiku to Tinubu: Cut Fuel Prices, Let Nigerians Breathe

Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the petroleum sector and reduce petrol and diesel prices, saying rising energy costs are putting additional pressure on Nigerian households, workers, farmers and businesses.

Atiku made the call on Friday, September 18, 2026, during a press conference in Abuja, where he also criticised the Federal Government’s reliance on palliatives and raised concerns over plans to phase out electricity subsidies.

He asked President Tinubu to use the remaining months of the administration to implement measures capable of easing the cost-of-living crisis, arguing that Nigerians need policies that reduce the underlying cost of goods and services rather than temporary relief after prices have already risen.

According to Atiku, the impact of higher petrol prices has extended far beyond filling stations, affecting transportation, food distribution, farming, manufacturing, logistics and household budgets.

He argued that when petrol becomes more expensive, transport operators face higher costs, farmers spend more moving produce, traders pay more to move and stock goods, workers spend more commuting and businesses incur higher logistics and energy expenses.

Atiku said the resulting pressure ultimately reaches consumers through higher prices for food and other essential goods.

He also questioned the effectiveness of government palliatives, including food distribution and cash-transfer programmes, arguing that such interventions may provide temporary assistance but cannot replace policies that restore the purchasing power of Nigerians.

The ADC candidate said government should concentrate on lowering production and energy costs so that households and businesses can retain more of their income.

His comments came amid another round of increases in the domestic petrol price.

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The Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased its petrol gantry price from ₦1,265 to ₦1,350 per litre effective September 12, 2026. The increase represented an ₦85, or 6.7 per cent, rise and was the fourth upward adjustment in the refinery’s petrol price since August 21.

The successive adjustments have also been reflected at some filling stations, with petrol selling for as much as ₦1,395 per litre at some locations in Lagos, although prices have varied between stations and marketers.

Atiku said the government should not hesitate to adopt measures capable of lowering petrol prices simply because similar proposals originated from the opposition.

He said his concern was the effect of high energy costs on Nigerians and argued that the administration should act in the public interest.

A major part of Atiku’s argument is his proposal for a production subsidy for locally refined petroleum products.

The former vice-president has said his proposal is different from the former system of subsidising imported petrol. Under his plan, government support would be targeted at the crude feedstock supplied to qualifying refineries operating in Nigeria.

Atiku said the proposed mechanism would lower the cost of crude supplied to domestic refineries, with the reduction expected to translate into lower production costs and ultimately lower petrol prices for consumers.

He has proposed that the intervention should be transparent, capped and independently verified, with only crude refined in Nigeria qualifying for the support. Imported petroleum products, according to his proposal, would not benefit from the scheme.

Atiku has also said any such intervention should have a defined financial limit, be subject to National Assembly approval and undergo independent auditing.

He maintains that the policy would encourage domestic refining, protect investments in Nigeria’s refining industry and reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

The proposal has generated debate because the Tinubu administration ended the long-standing petrol subsidy in May 2023, with the government arguing that the policy had become financially unsustainable and placed a heavy burden on public finances.

The subsequent removal of the subsidy resulted in a sharp increase in petrol prices and contributed to higher transportation and living costs, making fuel pricing one of the major economic issues in Nigeria.

The latest debate is taking place as Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity expands, particularly through the Dangote refinery.

The refinery has become a major supplier to the Nigerian market, but its prices continue to be influenced by factors including crude oil costs, exchange rates, refining expenses, logistics and international market conditions.

Atiku’s position is that government can intervene on the production side by lowering the cost of crude supplied to domestic refineries rather than returning to a system that subsidises imported petrol.

The former vice-president has also urged the government to reduce diesel prices, which remain important to manufacturers, transport operators, small businesses and other enterprises that depend on diesel-powered generators and equipment.

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He argued that lower energy costs would help reduce the cost of doing business and could eventually moderate prices paid by consumers.

Atiku also turned his attention to the electricity sector, where the Federal Government has announced plans to phase out electricity subsidies in 2027.

The government has said the reform is aimed at improving the financial sustainability of the power sector. The planned changes have nevertheless generated concerns over their possible impact on households and businesses already struggling with high operating costs.

Atiku warned that higher electricity costs could add to the burden already being carried by Nigerians.

He pointed to small enterprises such as barbers, tailors, welders and frozen-food sellers, as well as manufacturers that rely on a combination of public electricity, diesel and other alternative power sources.

He argued that government should avoid imposing additional energy costs before adequate measures are put in place to protect consumers.

The debate over fuel subsidy and electricity subsidy has therefore become part of a broader disagreement over the direction and social impact of Nigeria’s economic reforms.

Atiku has argued that the savings and additional revenues generated by subsidy reforms should translate into tangible improvements in Nigerians’ living standards.

The Federal Government, meanwhile, has maintained that the petrol subsidy removal was necessary to reduce the fiscal burden of the old system and allow resources to be redirected towards development and other government priorities.

The issue has gained renewed prominence as petrol prices rise again.

Organised labour and opposition groups have also increased pressure on the Federal Government for measures to cushion households from the impact of higher petrol prices, while calls have continued for greater support for domestic refiners.

The latest petrol price increases have revived questions about why pump prices remain high despite the availability of locally refined fuel and Nigeria’s status as a major crude oil producer.

Market participants have pointed to the cost of crude, global oil-market volatility, exchange-rate movements, distribution expenses and other factors affecting the final pump price.

Aliko Dangote has also raised concerns about differences between Nigerian petrol prices and prices in neighbouring countries, which can create incentives for cross-border fuel smuggling.

For Atiku, however, the immediate priority is to reduce the pressure on consumers.

He has urged President Tinubu to consider his proposed local refining production subsidy, lower petrol and diesel costs, address electricity affordability and adopt broader economic policies aimed at restoring Nigerians’ purchasing power.

The intervention also comes against the backdrop of the 2027 presidential election, in which Atiku is the ADC presidential candidate.

His criticism of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies is therefore part of the wider political debate over the consequences of subsidy removal, the cost of living, domestic refining and the management of Nigeria’s energy sector.

The central policy disagreement is whether government intervention should return in some form to reduce consumer prices or whether Nigeria should continue moving towards a market-driven energy pricing system while using targeted measures to protect vulnerable households.

As petrol prices remain elevated and electricity reforms continue, the debate is likely to remain a major issue for Nigerian households, businesses and policymakers.

Atiku to Tinubu: Cut Fuel Prices, Let Nigerians Breathe

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Tinubu, Macron Hold Private Dinner in Paris, Reaffirm Nigeria-France Ties

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2 hours ago

September 18, 2026

Trends Admin

Tinubu, Macron Hold Private Dinner in Paris, Reaffirm Nigeria-France Ties

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has held a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, with both leaders reaffirming the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France and their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The meeting took place on Thursday, September 17, 2026, during Tinubu’s ongoing three-week annual leave in Europe.

The Presidency disclosed the engagement on Friday, saying Macron received Tinubu at the Élysée Palace for the private dinner as the two countries continued efforts to deepen their diplomatic and economic relationship.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the engagement reflected the enduring ties between Nigeria and France and the shared commitment of both countries to expanding cooperation.

Tinubu also confirmed the meeting in a message shared on his official social media platform, describing the dinner with Macron as a pleasure.

The Nigerian President said his conversation with the French leader reaffirmed the strong friendship between Nigeria and France, as well as their determination to deepen cooperation and build a mutually beneficial partnership.

Photographs released from the meeting showed Tinubu and Macron at the French presidential palace, while another image featured Tinubu alongside Macron and France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron.

The Presidency did not disclose the specific issues discussed during the private dinner or announce any new agreement arising directly from the meeting.

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The engagement nevertheless comes against the backdrop of expanding Nigeria-France relations, with both countries maintaining cooperation in areas including trade, investment, energy, security, education, infrastructure, innovation, culture and the creative economy.

The latest meeting also adds to a series of high-level engagements between Tinubu and Macron since the Nigerian President assumed office in 2023.

In September 2025, Tinubu met Macron at the Élysée Palace for a private working lunch. Following that engagement, Tinubu said the discussions had covered key areas of cooperation and reflected the desire of both countries to deepen their partnership.

The relationship received another major boost during Tinubu’s state visit to France in November 2024, when the two countries expanded discussions around economic cooperation, investment, energy transition, defence, education, culture and innovation.

The 2024 visit was particularly significant because it was described by the French Presidency as the first state visit by a Nigerian president to France since 2000.

During the visit, Tinubu and Macron also witnessed efforts to strengthen private-sector links between the two countries, including engagements involving the Franco-Nigerian Business Council and representatives of businesses and economic institutions.

The two governments have continued to pursue stronger economic relations, particularly around French investment in Nigeria and opportunities for Nigerian businesses to access the French and wider European markets.

Security cooperation has also remained part of the broader Nigeria-France relationship, with France maintaining engagement with Nigeria on regional security and counter-terrorism issues.

The latest meeting, however, was not accompanied by a detailed communiqué setting out specific decisions or agreements.

Tinubu’s meeting with Macron came shortly after the Nigerian President arrived in France for the second phase of his European vacation.

He had earlier spent part of his annual leave in London before travelling to Paris. The Presidency had described the three-week absence as an annual leave and working vacation, with Tinubu expected to return to Nigeria after completing the trip.

The private dinner therefore provided another opportunity for the Nigerian and French leaders to maintain direct contact at the highest level, while publicly reaffirming the importance of the Nigeria-France partnership.

The meeting also underscores the continuing diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Paris as both countries seek to expand cooperation across economic, political, security and cultural areas.

For now, details of any specific outcomes from the private dinner remain undisclosed, with the Presidency’s public account centred on the friendship between the two countries and their shared commitment to stronger bilateral relations.

Tinubu, Macron Hold Private Dinner in Paris, Reaffirm Nigeria-France Ties

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FG Plans 2027 Electricity Subsidy Phase-Out, Targets Power Sector Debt

Published

11 hours ago

September 18, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe

FG Plans 2027 Electricity Subsidy Phase-Out, Targets Power Sector Debt

The Federal Government plans to begin phasing out electricity subsidies from 2027 as part of a wider effort to restore financial stability to Nigeria’s power sector, improve electricity supply and prevent the accumulation of fresh liabilities.

Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe disclosed the plan while outlining the government’s reform agenda, saying the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was working to clear legacy obligations in the electricity market and establish a more sustainable funding structure.

Tegbe said the planned withdrawal of the subsidy should not be interpreted as an immediate increase in electricity tariffs.

The minister has repeatedly stated that there is currently no government policy to increase electricity tariffs beyond their existing levels, stressing that the immediate priority is to improve service, expand access and ensure consumers pay for electricity actually supplied to them.

He also said the government was developing measures to protect vulnerable electricity consumers as the reform progresses.

The planned subsidy phase-out comes against the background of a major financial crisis in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). The government has had to cover part of the difference between the cost of supplying electricity and the amount recovered through tariffs, while unpaid obligations have accumulated across the electricity value chain.

Recent figures cited by industry reports indicate that the Federal Government covered about ₦358.32 billion of electricity generation costs in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

Between April 2025 and April 2026, distribution companies reportedly issued electricity invoices worth about ₦3.16 trillion, with the government expected to cover about ₦1.86 trillion as subsidy for customers whose tariffs remained below cost-reflective levels.

The burden has added to the financial pressures facing generation companies, gas suppliers and other participants in the electricity market, limiting their ability to maintain equipment, settle obligations and invest in additional capacity.

The government has therefore made power-sector debt reduction a central part of its reform programme.

President Tinubu approved a plan to settle about ₦3.3 trillion in verified legacy electricity-sector debts accumulated between February 2015 and March 2025.

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To support the programme, the Federal Government established a ₦4 trillion Power Sector Multi-Instrument Issuance Programme.

The government has so far raised hundreds of billions of naira through the initiative. The second series, valued at approximately ₦728.9 billion, was completed in September, bringing total funds raised under the programme to more than ₦1.1 trillion, according to government officials.

The second issuance comprised about ₦402 billion in cash bonds and ₦326.98 billion in non-cash bonds allocated to participating generation companies. Eleven GenCos took part in the second series, compared with eight in the first.

The debt settlement is intended to restore liquidity to the electricity market and improve the financial position of generation companies, which in turn should help them meet obligations to gas suppliers and invest in maintaining and expanding their plants.

The Federal Government has said resolving the historical debt problem is necessary if the electricity market is to become commercially sustainable and attract new private investment.

The subsidy reform is being pursued alongside measures aimed at improving the physical infrastructure needed to deliver electricity.

The Federal Ministry of Power has identified weaknesses in the national transmission network as one of the major constraints to reliable electricity supply and has established a Technical Working Committee on Grid Stabilisation.

The committee is expected to work with the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Nigerian Independent System Operator to address transmission bottlenecks, ageing infrastructure and recurring system collapses.

The government’s plans include strengthening critical transmission corridors, expanding grid redundancy and modernising control and monitoring systems.

Tegbe has also outlined plans to improve metering, tackle electricity theft and reduce technical and commercial losses across the power value chain.

The government has linked the reforms to its wider objective of ensuring that consumers are billed more accurately and that electricity companies can recover the revenue required to maintain their operations.

The minister has also reported improvements in generation and electricity availability in some areas, but stressed that generation alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s power problems.

For electricity to reach consumers consistently, power must be generated, transmitted, distributed and properly paid for. Weaknesses in any part of that chain can undermine improvements elsewhere.

The government is therefore pursuing reforms across generation, transmission, distribution and metering, rather than relying solely on additional generation capacity.

The planned 2027 electricity subsidy phase-out will be a major test of those reforms. Government support has helped keep tariffs below the cost of supplying electricity for some categories of consumers, but the resulting financial burden has contributed to recurring liabilities in the sector.

The challenge for the government will be to reduce that burden without worsening the difficulties faced by households and businesses, particularly low-income consumers.

Tegbe has said vulnerable Nigerians will be protected and that the subsidy transition will be accompanied by efforts to improve electricity services.

For now, the Federal Government is combining the planned subsidy reform with debt settlement, grid investment, metering and measures to improve the commercial operation of the electricity market.

The success of the policy will ultimately depend on whether the government can translate those measures into more reliable electricity, improved service delivery and a financially sustainable power sector while limiting the impact of the transition on vulnerable consumers.