The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Kukah, has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to urgently address the escalating food crisis in Nigeria. Kukah made this plea on Friday while delivering remarks at the unveiling of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Progressive Institute in Abuja.
“Nigerians are hungry, and something urgent needs to be done,” Kukah stated, emphasizing the dire need for the government to take immediate action to alleviate the food shortages gripping the nation. He also urged the government to take swift measures to reduce the soaring cost of fuel.
The event, which brought together key political figures, saw the attendance of governors, ministers, party leaders, and appointees from both the national and state levels. Among those present were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, as well as representatives of Vice President Kashim Shettima and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Nigeria is currently facing one of its worst food crises in history, with food inflation surging to over 40%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The recent hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from approximately ₦585 per liter to nearly ₦900 per liter by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has further exacerbated the situation, prompting widespread calls for a price reversal.
Bishop Kukah also stressed the importance of building democracy on a solid intellectual foundation. “Unless democracy is built on an intellectual foundation, it will be built on sand,” he remarked, adding that politics must be treated as a science aimed at delivering good governance, rather than a tool for looting.
In addition, the cleric expressed his desire for the Kukah Centre to elevate standards in leadership and governance. While acknowledging that he is not a politician, Kukah noted that he is politically engaged and committed to promoting quality leadership in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje highlighted the purpose of the Progressive Institute, stating that it is intended to institutionalize the party’s ideology. He explained that the institute will serve as the party’s official policy think-tank, providing a platform for discussions between the party, Nigerians, the academic community, and the media to promote inclusiveness.
Ganduje further noted that the institute will offer policy advice and recommendations to APC-led governments at both the national and state levels, while also serving as an intellectual hub that will engage the international community
