Bishop faults Ekiti Govt’s inflation claims

Bishop faults Ekiti Govt’s inflation claims

By Idowu Adebomi

The Presiding Bishop of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church, Nigeria, Most Rev. Oluwaseun Raphael Fagbohun, PhD, has challenged the Ekiti State Government’s assertions that food prices and inflationary pressures are easing, describing such claims as misleading and contrary to official data.

Speaking during a clergy meeting in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, Bishop Fagbohun reacted to recent statements by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade.

The Commissioner had credited Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s agricultural interventions with a purported decline in food costs across the state.

However, the cleric argued that statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) tell a different story.

He urged the administration to move away from propaganda and misinformation, noting that Ekiti remains one of the states most severely impacted by inflation as of January 2026.

According to the latest NBS figures, Ekiti recorded the highest all-items inflation rate toward the end of 2025, peaking at approximately 20.1% in October a position it reportedly held for several consecutive months.

Bishop Fagbohun highlighted a shift in the economic crisis, noting that while food costs remain high, inflationary pressure is increasingly driven by non-food essentials such as housing, transportation, and basic services.

This shift, he explained, has further compounded the cost-of-living crisis for residents.

“Inflation cannot be wished away with political statements; it is a lived reality for ordinary people. When official national data clearly place Ekiti at the top of inflation figures, it is unfair and dishonest to tell citizens that prices have significantly reduced,” the Bishop stated.

Calling for transparency, the cleric urged the state government to adopt data-driven policies and engage the public with honesty.

He concluded by warning that persistent inflation continues to erode purchasing power, demanding that leaders at all levels prioritize sustainable solutions to deepen economic relief for Nigerians.