President Bola Tinubu yesterday returned to Nigeria after a 13-day private visit to Paris, France amidst protests on cost of living.
The presidential jet, NAF 001 landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 9 pm.
Tinubu, who returned in the midst of protests which were being carried out in some states over the rising prices of food and high living costs, was seen exchanging pleasantries with the government officials who came to welcome him at the airport.
The President was received by top government officials, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Those also in attendance were the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Director-General of the Department of State Service, Yusuf Bichi, among others.
Presidency however remained silent on the reason for the visit, but it was rumored to be unconnected to his regular medical checkup.
The President was initially billed to return “in the first week of February 2024,” according to the statement that announced his departure on January 24.
The trip was his third to France and his 14th foreign visit since he assumed office eight months ago.
“Rising Costs of Living“
Recall that on January 5, 2024, some angry youths and women had stormed the streets of Minna, the Niger State capital, and Kano to demonstrate against the rising costs of living in the country.
Similar protests also erupted in Ondo State, Nigeria’s South-West on that fateful day.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, yesterday said Tinubu had directed immediate succour to alleviate the suffering, adding that such step was to stop further breakdown of security in the country.
The minister spoke after a meeting of the Special Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention, chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Mohammed, while addressing reporters after the first of three meetings on Tuesday where the committee was meant to handle the issue of food scarcity or insufficient food for the majority of Nigerians, said:
“What I will tell Nigerians is that the President has directed that government needs to step in to stem this tide. The government will not fold its arms and see how Nigerians are suffering regarding the availability of these food items.
“So, I want to plead with you to understand the government. By the time these meetings are concluded, we’ll be able to issue a definite statement on the government’s position in this regard.
But all I can say is that discussions are ongoing, and very soon, a solution is in sight for Nigerians.” The minister stated.
Mohammed Idris asserted that there was no food scarcity in Nigeria, stressing that the Federal Government was in negotiations with key commodity dealers and millers to secure increased supply, which would lower the cost of some commodities.
He claimed that some groups were causing chaos by taking advantage of the depreciating naira and the high cost of food.
