Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central Senator, on Wednesday said the hike in the prices of foodstuff was artificial and deliberate.
Sani said some unscrupulous individuals are hiding behind inflation to hike the prices of foodstuffs.
Posting on X, the social critic said the reports of food prices coming down show that the hike was being manipulated.
According to Sani: “The fact that food prices are coming down in some states as reported in the papers shows that the prices are artificially and deliberately manipulated by some unscrupulous individuals hiding behind the inflation.”
The economic hardship in the country had led to a hike in the prices of foodstuffs across the country.
The shortage of foodstuffs was also linked to the hoarding by some people and illegal smuggling to neighbouring countries.
Recall that Vice President Kashim Shettima had disclosed how security operatives discovered 32 illegal routes being used to smuggle foodstuffs and other items to neighbouring countries from Nigeria.
Shettima said security agents intercepted 45 trucks smuggling maize to neighbouring countries.
He noted that the price of “maize came down by N10,000. It came down from N60,000 to N50,000” when the trucks were intercepted.