Hundreds of youths in Niger State have taken to the streets to express their frustration over the rising cost of living in Nigeria.
The protesters carried placards with messages 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.” The demonstrators marched through the streets, chanting anti-government slogans to voice their grievances
The protests are a response to the escalating economic challenges faced by many Nigerians, which include high prices of essential goods and services. Our correspondent observed groups of protesters along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway but was unable to interview them as they declined to speak.
In an effort to prevent the protests, both federal and state governments had attempted to dissuade the public from participating, citing concerns that the demonstrations could be exploited by criminal elements to destabilize the region.
Governor Mohammed Bago had recently introduced several measures aimed at alleviating the economic strain on the residents of Niger State. Last week, he announced a N20,000 wage allowance for state and local government employees.
Additionally, the governor ordered the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains, to be sold at subsidized rates. He stated, “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%.”
