…LP Asks Tinubu To Seek Help, Says Condition Unmanageable
ABUJA – Residents of Niger State on Monday took to the streets of Minna, protesting the rising cost of living in the country.
The protesters blocked major roads, including the Kpakungu Roundabout at Minna-Bida road, stopping activities of many commercial vehicles in the area.
The protesters, including women and teenagers, chanted protest songs and called on the Federal Government’s intervention in the soaring cost of food and other products. They were later joined by men and youths.
They also complained about the fuel price hike and its continuous economic impacts, emphasising the need for the government to take action.
When some of the youths began speaking in Hausa language, they lamented how the country’s economy was getting worse under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
One of the youths, who gave his name as Ibrahim Gana, said, “Rice was sold at the cost of N2,000 at Minna markets while maize was N1,000 per module (measure).
“The Federal Government needs to take action to reduce the hardship being faced by the poor Nigerians. Things are becoming unbearable.”
An attempt by the operatives to quell the protest and effect the arrest of some of the youths failed as the youths chased away the officers who were coming after them.
Some passersby lamented how they narrowly escaped injuries as the youths continued to chase people away from going about their lawful duties.
While addressing the protesters, the deputy governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, stated that the government was aware of the hardships many Nigerians were going through.
He also noted that the government was working to alleviate the hardships by reducing the cost of living.
The Niger State police command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, who reacted to the protest, said the police had to apply minimum force to disperse the protesters.
“I woke up this morning with information that many people protesting blocked Bida road, obstructing motorists and causing people to be unable to go about their work. So we had to deploy there this morning.
“After so much persuasion, they refused to open the road, even the deputy governor, His Excellency, was there to address them; we had to use minimum force to disperse the protesters, the road was opened, and there is a free flow of traffic now.”
LP Asks Tinubu To Seek Help, Says Conditions Unmanageable
Meanwhile, the opposition Labour Party (LP) has tasked President Bola Tinubu to seek help in addressing the country’s economic situation.
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, said that it was “deeply concerned about the increasing cost of living in Nigeria and how millions of Nigerians are battling with the crisis of food shortage since the turn of the year.”
The statement came on the heels of protest by residents of Minna, the Niger State capital, who blocked roads in the city to protest the high cost of living.
LP said that the “women and young people among the demonstrators were heard chanting protest songs while accusing the government of insensitivity and inadequate responses.”
It explained, “As of today, essential commodities such as rice, garri, flour, protein have witnessed exponential increase in prices since January.
“For instance, a carton of Indomie noodles now sells for N10,000, a 50kg bag of sugar is now selling at N73, 000 as against N62, 000 sold in early January.
“A bag of cement now sells upward of N7000 against N5500, a bag of rice rising above N70,000, while a kg of meat now sells for N4000, amongst others.
“We are aware that the organised Labour Union and the government have been in a long protracted dialogue on a possible salary increase for civil servants.
“There is an air of despondency across the nation. The immediate fallout of this situation are increasing crime particularly among the youths who are desperate to remain alive, incidences of suicide are in upswing.
“It has now become a familiar scene for people to jump into the Lagoon, hang themselves or take lethal substances.
“It is either that the government is bereft of ideas on how to check this unfolding catastrophe or that it chose to continue to act as if it is still campaigning for office. This is no time for politics.”
It recalled also that Nigerians were told that by removing fuel subsidies the economy will revamp.
“In addition to the foreign exchange crisis where the dollar is now selling above N1500 and naira still falling unabated, it has become obvious that this sad situation may never be arrested by this government and this calls for concern.
“We have always said it that the hasty manner with which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was obviously basking in the euphoria of his swearing in, announced the removal by fiat, his action was not taken through the rigors of consultations and planning.
“We knew this would lead us into economic trouble. Our leader, Mr. Peter Obi, and our party gave words of caution but we were called names.
“You can’t run a governance based on a whim. The economic turmoil we are suffering today is as a result of this poor sense of judgment.”
