•Mrs. Adebiyi: It is quite obvious that we have a government led by educated people but it is unfortunate that with their qualifications and their exposure, the nation is in shambles as prices of all consumable items have almost gone beyond the reach of common people. What they made us to believe is that they have the technical know-how but now, there is no food, no water and electricity is not available. In fact, nothing is working in the country called Nigeria and with the high prices of food now, how can a salary earner live happily? A lot of people had advised the government but nothing has come out of it. My advice to the government is that it should encourage mass production of our food, especially rice. Farmers should also be encouraged and given farming implements at subsidised rate so that more people can get involved in farming.
•Moses Igwe: The high prices of food is worrisome. Government should just try and bring it down. It should also encourage more people to go into farming by giving them soft loans and the ban on importation, especially rice, which has become the nation’s staple food, should be lifted.
•Eric Egbachi: Government should encourage people to go into farming by giving them money and all other assistance they may need. By doing so, there will be abundance of food while dependence on importation will be reduced.
•Iya Lokpe: The increase in food prices is becoming alarming. In fact, almost all consumable items have become almost untouchable and things cannot continue like this. Government should try as much as possible to provide alternative means so that the people of the country don’t witness what is called famine.
•Friday Udola: Well, the situation is becoming unbearable. The suffering is becoming too much as the price of rice now is about N12,000. Government should lift the ban on importation and allow everyone to import food rather than give licence to a group of people. It should also liberalise the importation system and let everyone that has the financial capability to bring in food. It is then that there will be reduction in the escalating price of food.
•Ajani Adeoti: I read from the dailies recently that President Yar’Adua has ordered importation of rice worth N80 billion and now, I read again that the House of Assembly has stopped the move. What are they doing this for? Government should find lasting solution to the problem and try to import more than enough rice and other food items so that the citizens of this country don’t die of hunger.
•Ukoh Benedith: The increase in food prices is a funny story because I don’t believe that Nigerians can experience such crisis and those in authority seem not to be doing anything about it. Unemployment is another thing the government has to tackle. Imagine graduates becoming okada riders in a country that is well endowed with human and natural resources. Government has to tackle a lot of issues because we are tired of the situation. Since we have a new government, new things are also expected but not now that even the situation is getting worse by the day. It is almost a year now that the new regime has assumed office and nothing new has happened. The government should focus more on agriculture so that food will become abundant in the country.
•Peter Azubuke: Generally, the increasing price of food items is affecting everybody in the country. Why should the National Assembly stop the importation of rice proposed by the President? This is a serious problem and government should face it with all seriousness. How can a bag of rice which was sold for N6,000 in February become N10,000 or more in May? What will happen before December? Government should provide alternative to the situation and also encourage mass production of our own local rice and less dependant on imported ones.
•Mrs. Benedith Okorocha: I never thought that price of rice can so escalate and outrageous like we are witnessing now. Government should do something that will make the price to come down, that is the only solution to it. Government should also make sure that all the prices of foodstuff come down.
•Davidson Oyenachi: I don’t know how a poor family of five or six can cope with the situation with the poor salary that is being paid to workers in this country. This is not a matter of salary increase, government should try to provide permanent solution to the problem now.
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