A group of youths in Niger State took to the streets to protest the ongoing cost of living crisis in Nigeria.
They 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 protesters marched through the streets, chanting anti-government songs. Our correspondent observed some of the protesters on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway and attempted to speak with them, but they declined.
Both the Federal and State governments had made several efforts to stop the protest, expressing concerns that it could be hijacked by hoodlums and enemies of democracy.
Last week, Governor Mohammed Bago tried to dissuade residents from protesting by offering welfare packages. He announced a N20,000 wage allowance for state and local government civil servants and ordered the immediate release of 50,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains to be sold at subsidised rates to alleviate economic hardship.
“We have over 100,000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves, out of which we will release 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%,” he said at a town hall meeting.
In appreciation of their efforts in combating banditry, insurgency, and other criminal activities, the governor also announced a gift of one Prado Jeep to each head of security agency in the state.
While some organisers had announced August 1 as the start date for the protest, others indicated it would commence in July.
The government and security agencies have yet to respond to the protest in Niger State.
