In what clearly looks like an attempt to beat security measures being put in place to avert the planned August 1, 2024 nationwide protest against #hunger, #badgovernance, #inflation, #unemployment, among others, some youths on Monday{yesterday} took the nation by surprise as they mobilised and demonstrated in Niger State along the ever busy Abuja-Kaduna expressway.
While some of the organisers of the protest had announced August 1, 2024 as the commencement date for the nationwide protest, others said it may start ahead of the announced date.
The Federal Government has been mobilising men, security agencies and resources to avert the planned 10day protest scheduled to kick start on August 1, 2024.
But, ahead of the D-day and unexpectedly, some youths on Monday marched to the streets of Suleja, Niger State to protest against hunger in the land and the spiral high cost of living occasion by inflation that was caused by the removal of subsidy on premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on day he was inaugurated as President.
The youths who carried different placards with various inscription stating; ‘Hardship Is Unbearable’, ‘We Can Not Be Slaves In Our Country’; ‘Enough is Enough’; ‘Stop Anti-Masses Policies’; ‘Fuel Subsidy Must Be Back’, ‘Create Employment’, ‘Stop Corruption in Govt.’ ‘We’re Tire Of Failed Promises’ among others, marched through the streets chanting anti-government songs.
The Federal had in the past two weeks tried different tactics aimed at preventing the planned nationwide protest, stressing that it could be hijacked by hoodlums and enemies of democracy.
This was as Niger State Governor, Hon Mohammed Bago made spirited attempts to cajole residents of the state with some announced welfare packages to prevent the protest.
The packages announced by Bago included N20,000 wage allowance for both State and Local Government workers as well as directed the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains to be sold at subsidised prices to mitigate the current economic hardship the people were experiencing.
Bago promised the people at a town hall that before the end of the year, the government will ensure that the cost of food items are slashed by over 80 per cent.
He further said; “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”.
The Federal and Niger State government as well as security agencies were yet to react to the protest that kicked off in Niger State.
