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| PHOTOS: Hunger Protest Begins in Niger |
In Suleja, Niger State, youths have taken 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’, among others.
The protesters marched through the streets, chanting anti-government slogans.
Our correspondent attempted to speak with some of the protesters on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway axis of Suleja, but they declined to comment.
Both the Federal and State governments have made several efforts to prevent the protest, citing concerns that it could be hijacked by hoodlums and enemies of democracy.
Last week, Governor Mohammed Bago attempted to dissuade residents of Niger 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 subsidized rates to alleviate the current economic hardship.
“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%,” he stated at a town hall meeting.
To show appreciation for their efforts in combating banditry, insurgency, and other criminal activities, the governor announced a gift of one Prado Jeep to each head of security agency in the state.
While some organizers of the protest had announced August 1 as the start date, others indicated it would begin in July.
The government and security agencies have yet to respond to the protest that took place in Niger.
Below are pictures:
