During an interview on Mic on Podcast, former SDP presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo criticized the rising cost of living in Nigeria, arguing that the economic situation has become increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens.
Adebayo pointed to the sharp increase in the price of building materials and food as evidence of worsening economic conditions. He said the cost of cement, which he once bought for about ₦600, has now risen to over ₦11,000, while other construction materials such as iron rods have also become significantly more expensive.
According to him, “A bag of cement, which I used to buy for N600, is now N11,000 plus. Iron rods don’t do it anymore, so go on and go on and go on. Then your food is costing you more. Of course, there’s a temporary lull in the increment in food pricing. They’re selling that as food prices coming down. So they’re just lying to you. The highest cost in this government is the cost of truth because truth has become so expensive that nobody can afford it.”
He argued that government narratives suggesting improvement in food prices do not reflect the everyday realities experienced by many Nigerians. Adebayo maintained that transparency and honesty in governance are essential, especially during periods of economic hardship.