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Inflation Disparity: Why Food Remains Costly in the South Despite Northern Drop

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Despite Federal Government assurances that food inflation is on a downward trajectory, on-ground market surveys across key cities suggest otherwise, with the prices of essential food items remaining stubbornly high. Both traders and consumers continue to lament the unrelenting economic strain.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inflation slowed in June 2025 to 38.2 per cent from 40.66 per cent in May, attributing the decline to improved food supply and government interventions. However, findings from Sunday PUNCH indicate a stark contrast between official figures and market realities.

Across states including Lagos, Oyo, Delta, Rivers, Anambra, Abuja, Sokoto, Kano, and Kaduna, prices of staples like rice, beans, yam, tomatoes, maize, and garri have either remained unchanged or escalated over the past two months—often exceeding pre-May levels.

In the South-West, particularly Lagos, prices have surged dramatically. At markets in Iyana Iba, Ikorodu, and surrounding areas, a bag of local parboiled rice rose from ₦53,000 in May to ₦77,000 in July. A 50kg bag of maize jumped from ₦68,000 to ₦78,000, while a bag of white garri reached ₦60,000.

Tomatoes recorded one of the most dramatic increases, climbing from ₦58,500 per basket in May to a staggering ₦110,000 by July. Onions followed a similar trend, rising from ₦85,000 per bag in May to ₦140,000 by July. Beans remained costly, hovering at ₦82,000 in May and easing slightly to ₦75,000 in June. Fresh yam tubers now sell between ₦5,000 and ₦6,000.

Traders described the situation as highly unstable. At Ikorodu Market, a trader, Temitope Maria, said, “About two months ago, a bag of local parboiled rice was ₦53,750. Now it’s ₦77,000. It keeps rising without warning.”

At Iyana Iba Market, another trader, Mallam Mohammed, attributed the surging prices of tomatoes and pepper to escalating transport costs. “We bring them from the North. Transport is expensive, so we buy less and sell higher. That’s why customers complain,” he said.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, market conditions revealed mixed signals. While food prices soared in Gbagi Market, Bodija Market showed minor declines. At Gbagi, a paint bucket of beans rose from ₦1,200 in May to ₦3,000. Fish prices also skyrocketed. A fish vendor, Mrs. Olaitan Deborah, reported, “Sawa fish was ₦500, now ₦1,000. A carton of Sawa went from ₦24,000 to ₦61,000. Kote fish jumped from ₦53,000 to ₦65,000 in just four days. Titus climbed from ₦18,000 to ₦125,000 per carton, and turkey rose from ₦30,000 to ₦58,000.”

Yam sellers echoed similar concerns. “Big yam tubers that were ₦4,000 now sell for ₦7,500. Small ones that were ₦1,500 are now ₦4,000,” said Mrs. Abduljabar Idayat.

However, at Bodija Market, some traders reported mild relief. Rasheed Ajani, a foodstuffs dealer, noted that rice prices had dropped slightly from ₦85,000 to between ₦80,000 and ₦81,000 per bag. Beans also fell from ₦75,000 to ₦51,000.

Meanwhile, in Osun State, prices continued their upward trajectory. Visits to Ota Efun and Igbona markets in Osogbo revealed that a 50kg bag of rice now sells for ₦74,000.

These figures paint a grim picture of ongoing food insecurity and economic hardship, raising concerns about the effectiveness of official inflation metrics in capturing the lived experiences of ordinary Nigerians.

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Police Declare War On ‘Keyboard Warriors’! Threaten Crackdown On Spreaders Of Fake Security News!.

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The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has issued a stern warning to media professionals, social media users, and the general public, advising against the dissemination of unverified information that could jeopardize national security and active operations by security agencies.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

  • Need for Discretion: Force Public Relations Officer, Iniedu Anietie Okokon, emphasized that the sensitivity of security operations requires restraint and discretion rather than the sharing of misleading or unverified details.

  • Operational Silence: Okokon stated that he prefers maintaining “operational silence” to prevent the spread of false information.

  • Criticism of “Keyboard Warriors”: The spokesperson criticized “keyboard warriors” for commenting on complex security matters without understanding the realities of tactical deployments and strategic operations.

  • Impact on Security: Such uninformed commentary can distort public perception and undermine efforts to combat crime.

  • Media Responsibility: Okokon urged journalists and content creators to act responsibly and avoid allowing their platforms to be used to propagate subversive ideologies or dissident narratives.

  • Call for Verification: Given the rapid spread of unverified information online, the police have reaffirmed their commitment to public safety and urged all Nigerians to verify facts before sharing them.

The Force further noted that many critics fail to acknowledge the daily sacrifices made by police officers in their mission to safeguard citizens’ lives and property.

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The Bulldozers Are Coming! Kano Targets Azman University In Massive Illegal Property Crackdown.

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Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has dismissed recent claims by 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi regarding Nigeria’s power generation goals. During an Arise Television interview, Onanuga clarified that Nigeria’s core electricity crisis stems from structural deficits—such as gas supply shortages, a $4 trillion legacy debt owed to suppliers, and an aging national grid—rather than a lack of generation capacity.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Onanuga noted that the nation already possesses an installed capacity of 13,500 megawatts, exceeding Obi’s promise to add 10,000 megawatts. He argued that the former governor lacks a clear understanding of the existing infrastructure limitations. Furthermore, Onanuga highlighted that the Tinubu administration is actively tackling these issues through the Electricity Act, which decentralizes power management, and the establishment of the Grid Asset Management Company Limited (GAMCO) to improve performance. He maintained that power generation has seen marked improvement since the current administration took office in May 2023.

President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, has challenged Peter Obi’s pledge to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation by 10,000 megawatts within four years. In a recent interview, Onanuga stated that Obi’s plan ignores the reality that Nigeria’s installed capacity is already 13,500 megawatts—a figure that remains underutilized due to structural failures.

Onanuga identified the country’s primary obstacles as an outdated national grid, chronic gas supply issues, and a massive legacy debt of over ₦4 trillion owed to gas companies. He asserted that the current administration is addressing these systemic problems through legislative reforms, specifically citing the Electricity Act, which allows states to manage their own power generation, transmission, and distribution. Onanuga concluded that electricity output has already trended upward since May 2023 and that the government’s focus remains on optimizing existing assets rather than merely chasing higher capacity targets.

Bayo Onanuga is pushing back against Peter Obi’s recent promise to boost Nigeria’s power supply by 10,000 megawatts. According to President Tinubu’s spokesperson, the real issue isn’t a lack of capacity, but a broken system.

Onanuga pointed out that Nigeria already has 13,500 megawatts of installed capacity, most of which sits idle due to three main roadblocks:

  • The Grid: Outdated infrastructure that cannot handle current demands.

  • Gas Supply: A crippling lack of fuel for power plants.

  • Legacy Debt: A massive ₦4 trillion debt pile-up owed to gas suppliers.

Onanuga credited the Tinubu administration with tackling these hurdles head-on, specifically through the new Electricity Act that empowers states to generate and distribute their own power. He insists that the sector is already performing better than it was in May 2023 and that the focus is on fixing the structural bottlenecks, not just expanding capacity.

Would you like me to focus on a specific aspect of this report, such as the economic implications or the political disagreement between the two figures?

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Court Orders Probe Of Leaked Video In Alleged Coup Plot Trial

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On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja initiated an investigation into the unauthorized release of a video linked to the ongoing trial of six individuals accused of conspiring to topple President Bola Tinubu’s government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Investigation into the Leaked Video

  • Court Directive: Following a complaint from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), regarding a video statement that surfaced on the social media platform of influencer “VeryDarkMan” despite a court-imposed restriction, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct an inquiry.

  • National Security Concerns: The DPP characterized the leak as a national security risk that prejudices the ongoing judicial proceedings, noting the video had already surpassed 6,000 views.

  • Defense Stance: While defense counsel denied involvement in the leak, they held varying views on a probe; some welcomed an investigation, while others, like Sanusi Musa (SAN), cautioned against acting without formal evidence.

  • Judicial Ruling: Invoking Section 232(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Justice Abdulmalik mandated the DSS to identify and bring any responsible parties before the court, noting that such prosecution would be handled separately from the main coup trial.

Trial Testimony and Bail Proceedings

  • Witness Testimony: A prosecution witness, an Army officer codenamed “DDD,” testified that the investigation was conducted by a multi-agency team—including the Army, DSS, DIA, and EFCC—and explicitly denied that the defendants were chained, coerced, or tortured during interrogation.

  • Defense Challenges: During cross-examination, defense lawyers challenged the interrogation process, specifically noting the absence of family members or legal representation during the suspects’ questioning; however, the witness stated no such requests were made by the defendants.

  • Bail Applications: The court heard bail arguments from the defense, which the DPP opposed; Justice Abdulmalik has reserved her ruling on these applications and adjourned the trial-within-trial for the first three defendants until June 25 and June 30.

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