President Tinubu Gives Marching Order to Crash Cost of Food Transport
In a decisive move aimed at tackling one of Nigeria’s most persistent challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued what insiders are describing as a “marching order” to reduce the skyrocketing cost of transporting food items across the country.
The announcement, made public through the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, during a press briefing in Abuja, underscores the administration’s recognition that transportation costs form a major driver of food inflation in Nigeria.
The directive is not just a bureaucratic statement — it is a call to action. Nigeria is in the grip of a cost-of-living crisis, with food inflation officially standing at over 34% year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This is the highest level in decades, and it is felt in every household, market stall, and rural farm.
Senator Abdullahi explained that President Tinubu’s instruction is focused on ensuring safe passage and reduced costs for agricultural produce as they move from farms to markets nationwide.
“In addressing the high transportation costs of farm produce in the country, I can say on good authority that the President has issued a marching order. A Federal Executive Council committee is already working on promoting the safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes,” Abdullahi told reporters.
He highlighted that the directive aligns with Tinubu’s food sovereignty agenda, a policy vision articulated since his inauguration in May 2023, which seeks to make Nigeria self-reliant in food production and supply.
While most Nigerians are quick to blame traders for “arbitrary” price increases, analysts say the real culprit often lies in logistics. Transport costs, which have doubled or tripled in some cases due to fuel price hikes, bad roads, and security risks, significantly inflate food prices before they even reach urban markets.
A bag of maize that sells for ₦30,000 at the farm gate in Benue can end up at ₦45,000 or more by the time it reaches Lagos. Much of that price jump is due to:
- High diesel prices powering trucks.
- Illegal checkpoints and extortion along highways.
- Bad roads that slow travel and damage goods, leading to wastage.
- Insecurity, which forces transporters to take longer, safer routes or pay for armed escorts.
Tinubu’s order is therefore not just about cutting costs; it’s about improving efficiency, safety, and fairness in the movement of goods.
Drivers and traders paint a grim picture of what it takes to move goods across Nigeria.
In an interview with our correspondent, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, a truck driver who regularly ferries tomatoes from Kano to Port Harcourt, lamented:
“By the time I finish one trip, I have spent almost 40% of my profit on bribes and checkpoints. We face armed robbery threats, we face police, we face touts. Sometimes we sleep on the road because of bad roads or security situations. At the end, when I deliver, I must increase the price, otherwise I will run at a loss.”
Such accounts underscore why Tinubu’s intervention could be a game-changer — if implemented effectively.
According to Senator Abdullahi, a committee within the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has been tasked with coordinating the response. While details are still emerging, insiders suggest that the committee will involve the ministries of:
- Agriculture and Food Security
- Transportation
- Works (for road rehabilitation)
- Interior and Defence (for security of highways)
- Trade and Investment
This multi-sectoral approach is meant to tackle the problem holistically — not just patch potholes, but address systemic inefficiencies.
Experts believe there are several measures the government could adopt to bring transportation costs down:
- Rehabilitating Priority Roads: Focus on the top 10 agricultural corridors that move grains, tubers, and vegetables from farm clusters to major cities.
- Subsidizing Agro-Logistics: Offer targeted diesel vouchers or rebates to truckers who transport food items, much like fuel subsidies for public transport.
- Securing Transport Routes: Deploy special highway patrols or even military escorts for critical food convoys to reduce bandit attacks and theft.
- Reducing Checkpoints: Work with police and customs to minimize illegal roadblocks and harmonize taxes and levies.
- Rail Transport: Invest in moving bulk food items via rail, which is cheaper and safer in the long term.
If Tinubu’s marching order is executed successfully, it could have a deflationary effect on food prices, which make up over 50% of Nigeria’s inflation basket.
Dr. Ayo Teriba, a leading economist, told us:
“Transport cost is one of the hidden taxes Nigerians pay daily. If you can bring it down, you will not only reduce food prices but also free up household income for other needs. That is the kind of intervention that has both economic and political value.”
Tinubu’s administration is under intense pressure to deliver tangible results on the economy. High food prices have been one of the main drivers of public discontent, protests, and even political agitation.
Reducing the cost of food transport could be a major win for the government — but only if citizens feel the impact at the retail level. The president cannot afford for this order to be just another directive lost in Nigeria’s bureaucratic maze.
Despite the optimism, several hurdles could undermine the initiative:
- Bureaucratic delays in implementing road repairs or releasing funds.
- Resistance from corrupt officials who profit from illegal checkpoints.
- Insecurity in states like Niger, Zamfara, and Benue, where banditry disrupts farming and transport.
- Rising fuel prices if global oil markets tighten further.
Observers say this will require political will, not just policy papers.
Markets across Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt are buzzing with cautious hope.
At Mile 12 Market in Lagos, Mama Chidinma, a pepper seller, told our correspondent:
“If government can make sure that lorry people stop increasing their price every week, then maybe our own price can come down too. But if not, we cannot sell at loss. We are watching.”
This skepticism reflects a broader mood — Nigerians have heard similar promises before. What they want now is delivery, not rhetoric.
If Tinubu’s directive achieves its goals, Nigerians could see:
- Lower food prices within months.
- Shorter delivery times from farm to market.
- Fewer food shortages in urban centers.
- Improved rural incomes as farmers get fairer prices.
This would also send a strong political message that the government is responsive to the plight of ordinary citizens.
The president’s marching order is bold — but it is just the first step. Execution will determine whether it becomes a landmark policy or another unfulfilled promise.
Nigeria stands at a critical juncture: either it builds a resilient food transport system that benefits all, or it continues down the path of chronic food inflation and hunger.
For now, all eyes will be on the FEC committee and how quickly it can translate presidential directives into on-the-ground relief for millions of Nigerians.