STATEHOUSE PRESS STATEMENT

PRESIDENT TINUBU TO EMBARK ON WORKING VISIT TO PARIS

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart for Paris, France, today on a short working visit.

During the visit, the President will appraise his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones.

He will also use the retreat to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary.

This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year.

Recent economic strides reinforce the President’s commitment to these efforts, as evidenced by the Central Bank of Nigeria reporting a significant increase in net foreign exchange reserves to $23.11 billion—a testament to the administration’s fiscal reforms since 2023 when net reserves were $3.99 billion.

While away, President Tinubu will remain fully engaged with his team and continue to oversee governance activities.

He will return to Nigeria in about a fortnight.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

April 2, 2025

Australian consumers could end up paying more than $50 a kilo for steak at the supermarket as a result of Donald Trump‘s tariffs on agriculture exports, farmers say.

A kilogram of rump steak at Woolworths is now selling for $28.

But the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance, representing 350 small-scale farmers, fears rump steak will end of costing Australian consumers $56 at the supermarket.

Spokeswoman Tammi Jonas, an organic beef cattle producer from Daylesford in Victoria, said the American tariffs on agricultural imports would see more countries buy Australian beef to avoid trading with the US.

‘We already know there’s high demand for Australian beef around the world and I think that’s just going to get higher,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘In a global supply crunch like this, we could see rump steak climb past $50 per kilogram.

‘That’s not a family dinner – that’s a premium luxury.’

Dr Jonas said higher export prices would see less Australian meat sold to domestic consumers.

Australian consumers could end up paying more than $50 a kilo for steak as a result of Donald Trump ‘s tariffs on agriculture exports, farmers say (pictured is a Coles supermarket)

‘I would say there’s a strong likelihood of that, yes,’ she said.

‘And even if we still have enough beef sold within Australia, the prices are certain to go up.

‘Whenever you’re in those global markets, you roll with the volatility and if they can get a really high price overseas, they’re not going to charge less for domestic sales.’

But Angus Gidley-Baird, a senior analyst in animal protein with RaboResearch, said more expensive steak at the supermarket was unlikely, given the strong supply of Australian beef with the recent rainfall.

‘We produced record volumes of beef last year, I don’t see why there would be a shortage in the domestic market that would cause prices to rise,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.

‘The exports are effectively our markets that we sell the additional production into.’

Meat and Livestock Australia data showed the US was Australia’s biggest market for beef exports in 2024, putting it well ahead of Japan, South Korea and China.

Of the beef sent to the United States, 96 per cent of it was the leaner, grass fed variety that was either chilled or frozen.

The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance fears rump steak will end of costing Australian consumers $56 at the supermarket. Spokeswoman Tammi Jonas (left) said the American tariffs on agricultural imports would see more countries buy Australian beef to avoid trading with the US

The Americans have been in the grip of a drought, and most of their beef is fattier, grain-fed.

South American beef exporters Argentina and Brazil are also dealing with a lack of rainfall, which means demand for Australian beef would continue to be strong.

Mr Gidley-Baird said the Americans, who produced fattier, grain-fed beef, would still need the leaner, Australian grass-fed beef to make hamburger patties, regardless of import tariffs.

‘The US still continues to need imported product because they’re not producing as much themselves,’ he said.

‘They’ll still need Australian beef – the drought, it’s getting better in the US but they’ve liquidated their herd and production volumes are down.

‘What Australia sends to the US complements their production system over there in that it balances out the fatter product they’re producing for hamburger production.

‘They need the product and we’re one of the biggest suppliers of it – me being rational would still say that they would still buy it.’

At the margins, strong American demand for grass-fed beef had pushed up prices for Australian lean mince, now selling for $15.50 a kilo at Woolworths.

The Trump Administration’s tariffs of up to 25 per cent on agricultural imports are coming into affect on Thursday, along with tariffs on pharmaceutical products (President Donald Trump is pictured in the White House)

‘The US market has been very strong – it’s demanding a fair amount of product which is putting a bit of pressure on mince prices, lean product prices,’ Mr Gidley-Baird said.

The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance sees mince prices more than doubling to $36 a kilo.

But Dr Jonas predicted possible tariffs of up to 25 per cent on Australian beef would see American demand plunge, despite the fact they are in drought with an undersupply of grass-fed beef.

‘I think with a 25 per cent tariff they won’t be able to afford it – Americans are in as big a cost-of-living crisis as Australians are and they can’t handle a 25 per cent tariff on top of the higher meat price of imported Australian beef,’ she said.

The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance didn’t do specific economic modelling on Australian beef prices, as a result of the Trump tariffs on agriculture coming into effect on Thursday.

But it argued China’s African swine flu in 2019 led to a doubling of pork prices, as supply fell by 40 per cent.

The alliance campaigns against agribusiness giants like JBS Foods Australia, which owns feedlots and abattoirs.

‘The local farmers like us are losing access to the facilities to slaughter,’ Dr Jonas said.

‘While that sounds like a good thing for Australia – when we think, “We can export more” – the reality of that is very few people profit from that higher export.’

The Trump Administration’s tariffs of up to 25 per cent on agricultural imports are coming into effect on Thursday, along with tariffs on pharmaceutical products.

‘If it’s a large tariff but applied to everyone, our competitive position remains the same,’ Mr Gidley-Baird said.

They follow 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium, introduced on March 12.

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has urged members of the public, particularly youth groups, organisations, and hiking enthusiasts, to take necessary precautions before embarking on camping and hiking activities.

This advice follows recent security concerns and emphasises the importance of ensuring the safety of all participants.

In a statement by the FCT Police Spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, on Tuesday, April 1, it was stated that the police must be informed prior to any camping or hiking activity.

The statement emphasised that failing to do so presents significant security risks, as remote or unsecured locations can be vulnerable to criminal activities.

The statement reads: “The FCT Police Command hereby advises members of the public, especially youth groups, organizations, and hiking enthusiasts, to take necessary precautions before embarking on camping and hiking activities. This advice comes in light of recent security concerns and the need to ensure the safety of all participants.

“The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao S. Adwale, PSC, MNIPS, warns that the police must be informed before any camping or hiking activity takes place. He emphasizes that failing to do so poses significant security risks, as remote or unsecured locations can be vulnerable to criminal activities.

“The Command stresses the importance of notifying the police and liaising with them to obtain guidance on safe routes and adequate security arrangements. The FCT Police are committed to working with the public to minimize risks by offering expert advice on intended locations and ensuring proper monitoring and protection where necessary.

“Furthermore, the Command urges organizers to ensure that all participants are accounted for throughout the duration of such outdoor activities. It is essential to verify that everyone returns safely and in the same order to avoid cases of missing persons or unforeseen incidents. Effective communication with law enforcement before and during these activities can significantly reduce safety risks and enhance response efficiency in emergencies.

“To request security coverage, obtain advice on safe routes, or report any suspicious activities, members of the public are encouraged to contact the FCT Police Command through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, 08028940883.”

Source: X | FCT_PoliceNG