Usman Ishaq Shehu
PhD Candidate | Editor in Chief, J.O.Comms | Public Affairs Analyst and Strategic Communicator
Last week, we were having this discussion with an elderly person who said something that stuck with me: “Government decisions must reflect the reality of the people’s pain.” That sentiment captures why I believe the Federal Government’s recent decision to grant rice import waivers is not only justified but timely and strategic.
At a time when food inflation is hitting hard and the average Nigerian is struggling to afford basic staples, the move to allow rice imports is a direct response to a real and urgent need. The waivers are helping to flood the market with more rice, reduce scarcity, and bring down prices. That is exactly the kind of intervention people expect from a responsible government, one that listens and acts in the interest of its citizens.
Yes, we all agree that long term agricultural investment is crucial and this administration has already shown commitment to that. But even while efforts are ongoing to improve local production through mechanisation programs, youth empowerment in agribusiness, and input subsidies, the immediate hunger of the people cannot be ignored.
This is why the decision deserves commendation. It reflects balance. It shows that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is thinking both short term and long term. The rice import waivers are not a sign of weakness or abandonment of local farmers. On the contrary, they are a temporary measure to stabilise the market while broader reforms in the agricultural sector continue to take shape.
It also proves that governance under the Renewed Hope Agenda is people focused. Rather than allow market forces alone to dictate the suffering of the masses, the government has stepped in to provide practical solutions.
And we must give credit where it is due.
No policy is perfect but this one is clearly rooted in empathy and economic realism. It speaks to a government that is not only aware of the people’s pain but is willing to act swiftly to reduce it.
President Tinubu has once again shown leadership and I believe that with continued support for local farmers and smart economic policies like this, Nigeria will emerge stronger, more self sufficient, and more united in purpose.