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Federal Government Launches New Measures to Make Food Cheaper

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The Federal Government has rolled out new plans aimed at reducing the high cost of food across the country. This move comes as millions of Nigerians continue to complain about the sharp rise in food prices that has made even basic meals difficult for many families to afford.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) committee to urgently come up with solutions that will bring down food prices. The President said he wants practical actions, not just promises, that will make food more affordable in markets nationwide.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, revealed the new directive during a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday. He stressed that the government is committed to making sure the effects of the high cost of living are reduced as quickly as possible.

According to the minister, one of the key measures is the creation of a “safe passage” for the movement of farm produce and food items across major routes. This will help reduce the logistics and transport costs that currently make food prices higher. He explained that insecurity on highways and the rising cost of fuel have made it extremely expensive to move food from farms to markets.

Nigeria has been grappling with food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, which caused transportation costs to soar. In addition, frequent attacks on highways have disrupted the smooth movement of goods. Many households continue to struggle as their incomes cannot keep up with the fast-rising cost of basic food items like rice, maize, yam, and beans.

Senator Abdullahi said the latest steps are part of President Tinubu’s food sovereignty agenda. The goal, he noted, is not just to produce enough food for the population but to ensure that every Nigerian can access affordable, nutritious meals without struggling financially.

To achieve this, the government is preparing to launch a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to improve soil quality and increase food production. Alongside this, a revamped cooperative reform initiative will be introduced to mobilise resources, empower rural farmers, and strengthen farming communities.

The minister further explained that President Tinubu has shown great interest in the cooperative sector as a tool for boosting economic activity, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods, especially in rural areas where poverty levels remain high.

At the event, other key figures such as Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Media Committee, Senator Ita Solomon Enang, a former presidential aide, and Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of NILDS, were also present. Their presence highlighted the importance government is placing on solving the food crisis.

For millions of Nigerians, however, the biggest question remains whether these new promises will truly bring relief at the markets. Many citizens are watching closely to see if prices will finally come down and if food will become affordable again for ordinary families.

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National Pension Commission (PenCom) changes price disclosure rule

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National Pension Commission (PenCom) has directed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to discontinue the publication of daily unit prices for Retirement Savings Account (RSA) and Retiree Funds on their websites, replacing the requirement with a six-month disclosure of returns based on a three-year rolling average.

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the commission.

Under the new guideline, PFAs must stop implementing Section 2.0 (iv) of the Commission’s March 23, 2013 circular, which required them to display daily unit prices for the last seven days.

Instead, they are to publish on their websites the last six months’ rate of return — calculated as a 36-month compounded rolling average in line with the Circular for the Calculation and Reporting of Rate of Returns by Licensed Pension Fund Operators (LPFOs).

According to the commission, the rate of return must be clearly displayed on the homepage of each PFA’s website.

For instance, the six-month disclosure covering April to September 2025 would reflect the 36-month compounded returns ending in each of those months.

This has however raised transparency concerns in the pension industry.

The 2013 circular on Minimum Information to be displayed on PFA Websites formed part of PenCom’s transparency framework for the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The latest addendum modifies that requirement but does not remove PFAs’ obligation to disclose performance information.

Industry watchers say the development may reignite debate over the balance between long-term investment reporting and real-time transparency in Nigeria’s pension industry.

All enquiries on the addendum, the Commission said, should be directed to its Surveillance Department.

An industry analyst who does not want her name mentioned said the move could reduce contributors’ access to real-time performance data.

She said: “Daily unit prices allowed RSA holders to independently track short-term movements and detect fluctuations in fund valuation.

“With only a three-year rolling average now required, contributors will no longer see recent performance in isolation”, she noted.

The analyst added that while pension funds are long-term vehicles, removing daily disclosure raises concerns about information asymmetry.

“PFAs will still compute daily valuations internally. The issue is whether contributors should be denied access to data that already exists,” the analyst said.

However, another pension expert defended the directive, noting that pensions are structured for long-term accumulation and should be assessed over extended periods.

“A 36-month rolling average smooth’s out short-term volatility and provides a more accurate reflection of sustained performance,” the expert said, warning that excessive focus on daily fluctuations could encourage reactionary fund switching.

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Dollar rises in black market on Monday, traders quote new exchange rate

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Dollar edges higher against the naira in black market trading Dollar edges higher against the naira in black market trading

The United States dollar at the parallel market increased in value on Monday, Febuary 23 with traders quote at N1,375/$ as the new selling exchange rate.

The new rate is a slight depreciation for the naira when compared to N1,343 a dollar market closed on Friday, February 20, 2026.

Abdulahhi, a forex dealer, told Legit.ng that the new exchange rate follows renew demand in the market.

“I am currently selling dollars at N1,375/$1 and buying at N1,355/$1. The pound is trading at N1,845 to sell and N1,805 to buy, while the euro is also moving steadily in the market.

“It seems this week the dollar will return to over N1,400. I have been getting a lot of request.”

The fall of the naira comes as BDC operators continue to face difficulties in accessing dollars from commercial banks.

BDCs can get dollar

The apex bank had previously issued a circular allowing licensed BDCs to access foreign exchange through authorised dealers at the prevailing market rate.

Under the directive, each BDC is permitted to purchase up to $150,000 weekly, subject to Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements and due diligence checks, Punch reports.

Leadership reported that despite a policy announcement, some operators disclosed that no transactions have been completed under the new arrangement.

A BDC operator, who requested anonymity, said the directive remains largely unimplemented. According to him, the circular provides that disbursements will be made through settlement accounts, a provision that has raised operational concerns.

He questioned the feasibility of seamless, real-time transfers between domiciliary accounts across different banks, noting that such infrastructure may not yet be fully in place.

The operator added that while commercial banks appear supportive of the policy, many are still developing internal processes to align with the CBN’s directive.

He explained that BDCs are required to submit bid orders through their banks, which would then access the market on their behalf.

Naira in the official market

Meanwhile, in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the naira closed against the US dollar on Friday, February 20 at N1,346.32/$1 from N1,341.35/$1 a day earlier.

At the GTBank FX desk, the naira weakened by N7 against the dollar to quote N1,356/$1.

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