Niger State witnessed an eruption of protests as youths took to the streets to voice their discontent over the worsening cost of living crisis in Nigeria according to Daily Trust.
The demonstrators, brandishing placards with inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough,” “Stop Anti-Masses Policies,” “We Are Not Slaves In Our Country,” “Hardship Is Unbearable,” and “Fuel Subsidy Must Be Back,” marched through the streets chanting anti-government slogans.
The protest, which started on Monday, 29th July 2024, saw a significant number of youths converging on major roads, including the Abuja-Kaduna expressway. Despite attempts by the media to engage with the protesters, they remained resolute, refusing to speak to correspondents.
The Federal and State governments had previously made several efforts to quell the growing unrest, citing concerns that the protests could be hijacked by hoodlums and enemies of democracy. Last week, Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State announced a series of welfare measures aimed at mitigating the economic hardship faced by residents. These measures included a N20,000 wage allowance for state and local government civil servants and the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains to be sold at subsidized rates.
“We have over 100,000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves, out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50% of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food prices by 90%,” Governor Bago assured during a town hall meeting.
In a move to show appreciation for the efforts of security agencies in combating banditry and other criminal activities, the governor also announced the gift of one Prado Jeep to each head of the security agency in the state.
Despite these measures, the youths have remained defiant, demanding more immediate and substantial actions to alleviate their suffering….Seē _ Morē
