BREAKING: Nigerians blast Onanuga over falling of food price claims amidst hunger outcry
A wave of frustration has swept across Nigeria as citizens voice their anger over soaring food prices, directly challenging claims by General Bola Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, that costs are on the decline.
The public’s frustration erupted following a viral TikTok video by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Ushie Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, who criticized the federal government’s handling of the economy.
Raye, currently serving in Lagos State, gained widespread attention over the weekend with her video, where she called General Tinubu a “terrible leader” and decried the growing gap between hard work and financial stability in Nigeria. “The cost of living is unbearable,” she stated, questioning the government’s commitment to easing the economic burdens faced by citizens. The video quickly spread across platforms, but tensions rose when a leaked phone conversation surfaced, capturing an unnamed NYSC official urging Raye to remove her post. Standing firm, Raye refused, saying, “Deleting this content is pointless because they already know who I am. If I take it down, no one will know what happens to me.”
Her defiance struck a chord with Nigerians, who rallied on social media under the hashtag #30DaysRantsChallenge to share their own struggles with inflation and economic hardship. Small business owners were particularly vocal about the devastating impact of rising costs. Joy, a food business owner, tweeted, “In 2023, I sold a bowl of soup for ₦16,000 and made a profit. Now, the cheapest bowl is ₦35,000—just two years later.” Sommy, a baker, echoed the sentiment, saying, “Two years ago, a two-layer, seven-inch cake was ₦15,000. Now, even with ₦40,000, I struggle to make ₦10,000 profit after gas and transportation costs.” Caterer Ugbegbe added, “I might charge ₦40,000 for a bowl of soup, but the ingredients alone cost ₦35,000. Where’s the profit?”
Other citizens highlighted the soaring prices of basic goods. X user Dandy shared, “During my service year, a crate of eggs cost ₦600. Now, corps members with the same allowance pay ₦6,500—a 1,000% increase. Isn’t that enough to drive someone to despair?” Opeyemi Babalola voiced broader frustrations, stating, “All I want is good governance where the children of nobody can become somebody without connections. Many studied under pressure, completed NYSC, pursued master’s degrees, and even switched to tech—yet there’s nothing to show for it. Why?”
The public’s anger grew after Onanuga claimed on his official X handle that food prices were dropping, a statement swiftly debunked by Nigerians. Henry Shield retorted, “Fifty tubers of yam at Gosa Market cost ₦210,000 yesterday. Stop the propaganda.” King ABC shared, “I bought a kilo of turkey for ₦10,000 and three pieces of tilapia for ₦20,000 at Kado Fish Market.” Iwuala Valentine noted, “In one of Abuja’s cheapest markets, five small tubers of yam cost me ₦5,000, even at a reduced price.” Omona Adesina added, “I bought a bag of rice in February for ₦66,000. Last week, the same bag was ₦77,000.”
The mounting outcry reveals a stark disconnect between the claims of General Tinubu’s administration and the harsh realities Nigerians face as the hunger crisis deepens across the country.
