Nollywood actor Saidi Balogun’s recent Instagram post, which raised concerns about perceived price exploitation by traders, has been misinterpreted by some reporters as a critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and an implicit endorsement of recent protests.
However, Balogun, in a statement on Tuesday evening, said he remains a committed supporter of Tinubu, who he believes is working diligently to improve Nigeria’s economic conditions.
Balogun’s post was intended to highlight the urgent need for a functional price control mechanism to address the rising cost of living, particularly in relation to food prices.
According to him, his call for clarification on price control measures was directed at preventing market exploitation and ensuring that traders do not impose unreasonable prices on essential goods.
“It is crucial to recognize that the high food prices are often exacerbated by the actions of those who are also vocal about the issue. The Federal Government has taken several steps to mitigate this crisis, including suspending import duties and taxes on food items, providing substantial food donations to all the 36 states and the FCT and aggressively promoting agricultural development to stabilize prices”, he said.
He further stated that his concerns are focused on the necessity of regulatory measures to protect consumers, rather than a reflection of dissatisfaction with the current administration.
