Bishop Fagbohun berates ekiti govt over inflation claims says economic hardship in ekiti persists

By Idowu Adebomi, Ado Ekiti

The Presiding Bishop of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church, Nigeria, Most Rev. Oluwaseun Raphael Fagbohun, PhD, has faulted claims by the Ekiti State Government that food prices and inflationary pressures have eased in the state, describing such assertions as misleading and unsupported by official data.

Bishop Fagbohun made the remarks on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti during a clergy meeting, while reacting to recent statements credited to the Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade. The commissioner had claimed that food prices had declined following interventions by Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s administration in the agricultural sector.

The cleric, however, insisted that available statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) contradict the government’s position, urging state authorities to refrain from what he termed propaganda and misinformation.

According to the latest NBS figures, Ekiti State has consistently ranked among the most inflation-affected states in Nigeria as of January 2026. Data indicate that the state recorded the highest all-items inflation rate toward the end of 2025, peaking at about 20.1 per cent in October, a position it reportedly maintained for several consecutive months.

Bishop Fagbohun noted that while food inflation had historically driven rising prices, recent reports show a growing shift in inflationary pressure toward non-food essentials such as housing, transportation and basic services, further compounding the cost-of-living crisis faced by residents.

“Inflation cannot be wished away with political statements; it is a lived reality for ordinary people,” he said. “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.”

He called on the Ekiti State Government to embrace transparent, data-driven economic policies and engage the public with honesty, rather than promoting narratives that do not reflect the daily experiences of the people.

The bishop also urged leaders at all levels of government to prioritize sustainable economic solutions, warning that persistent inflation continues to erode purchasing power and deepen hardship among Nigerians.