Tinubu Knows Prices of Eggs, Bread in Markets, Presidential Aide Says

A presidential aide, Abiodun Essiet, has said President Bola Tinubu is aware of the prices of essential food items in Nigerian markets, including eggs and bread, amid concerns over the rising cost of living. Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North-Central region, made the remarks while speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday. She dismissed suggestions that journalists were the only people communicating the economic difficulties faced by Nigerians to the President, saying government officials regularly brief him on conditions across the country. “I don’t feel it’s only media people who understand what the people are facing. Some of the reality of what our people are facing is what we are communicating to Mr President,” she said. She added, “I usually tell people, you think Mr President doesn’t know the price of egg or bread in the market? He does, because we brief him regularly, and so do members of the Federal Executive Council.” The presidential aide also defended the administration’s focus on infrastructure, describing it as a key component of national development. Citing her visit to the Mokwa-Bida road in Niger State, Essiet said residents had welcomed attention to the road, which she described as a long-standing concern for communities in the area. She claimed the road had last been awarded a construction contract 46 years ago and highlighted the accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles attempting to navigate difficult sections. According to her, Tinubu directed that the road be reconstructed with reinforced concrete rather than ordinary asphalt to improve its durability. Her comments come as the administration faces continued public scrutiny over food affordability and household spending. On October 19, Vice-President Kashim Shettima said food prices were expected to decline in the coming weeks as the government responded to challenges affecting agriculture. However, Essiet’s remarks focused on the President’s awareness of food prices and the administration’s efforts to address infrastructure needs, rather than announcing a new food-price reduction measure. The cost of basic necessities remains an important issue for Nigerian households, with the public continuing to assess whether government policies are translating into improved living conditions.