BREAKING: Angry youths begin planned hunger protest in Niger State

In Niger State, youths have taken to the streets to protest the ongoing cost of living crisis in Nigeria.

The demonstrators 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 while chanting anti-government songs, expressing their dissatisfaction with the current economic policies and their impact on daily life.

A correspondent observed some of the protesters on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway and tried to engage them in conversation, but they declined to speak.

The Federal and State governments had made several efforts to stop the protest, saying it could be hijacked by hoodlums and enemies of democracy.

Last week, Governor Mohammed Bago had wooed residents of Niger with welfare packages to prevent the protest.

He had announced a N20,000 wage allowance for state and local government civil servants, ordered the immediate release of 50,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains to be sold at subsidised rates to mitigate 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 had said at a townhall 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.

Details later…

(Daily Trust)