President Bola Tinubu receives regular briefings on the rising cost of food and the economic challenges facing Nigerians, his Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement for the North-Central region, Dr Abiodun Essiet, has said.
Essiet said the President was aware of the prices of essential food items, including eggs and bread, contrary to suggestions that journalists were more familiar with the hardship confronting citizens.
She spoke with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
“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,” she said.
Essiet, who also represents the Presidency at the North-Central Citizens’ Assembly, said her role included communicating the concerns and experiences of ordinary Nigerians to the President.
She identified infrastructure development as a major priority of the administration, citing public reactions during her visit to the Mokwa-Bida road in Niger State.
According to her, the road has long been a source of concern for residents, with accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles among the problems reported along the route.
“The last time that road was given out on contract was 46 years ago. So tell me if that is not the wish of the people,” she said.
Essiet added that Tinubu had directed that the road be reconstructed with reinforced concrete instead of ordinary asphalt to ensure durability.
“Mr President said they should award the contract and make sure that the contract will be reinforced concrete, not just asphalt,” she said.
Her remarks come amid concerns over the high cost of food and its impact on household budgets.
Vice President Kashim Shettima had said on October 19 that food prices were expected to fall in the coming weeks as the Federal Government addressed challenges affecting agriculture.
Shettima spoke at a forum organised by the City Boy Movement and the Relax-Tinubu-Is-Fixing-Nigeria movement, both of which support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Essiet was appointed Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North-Central region in 2024.
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