A gathering of young individuals took to the streets in Osogbo, Osun State on Friday to peacefully protest against the escalating cost of living, urging immediate government intervention. Displaying placards bearing messages such as ‘change the unfavourable policies,’ ‘Nigerians are suffering, we can’t cope again,’ and ‘We are humans, stop mistreating the citizens,’ among others, the protestors congregated along MDS Road in Osogbo early in the day.
Despite a significant police presence near the protest site, the youth continued to voice their frustrations through songs, reflecting the hardships faced by many due to the challenging economic conditions. Addressing the protestors, Mr. Waheed Lawal, the chairman of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition, emphasized that the protest would persist until the Federal Government implements measures to alleviate the current economic challenges affecting the nation.
Lawal asserted, “Nigerians deserve the best. They promised us renewed hope, but what they are giving us now is renewed hardship. We reject renewed hardship in our lives and in our economy because Nigerians deserve the best. What Nigerians want is a peaceful atmosphere. We don’t want insecurity in our land again.”
He further highlighted concerns about security issues, expressing worries about travel safety and the increasing abduction of monarchs in the country. Lawal urged the government to fulfill its constitutional responsibility by providing security for the lives and property of citizens.
Meanwhile, earlier in the week, protests erupted in Minna and Kano where youths and women took to the streets, echoing similar concerns about the rising cost of living. In Niger, women blocked the Minna-Bida Road at the Kpakungu Roundabout, calling on leaders, including Tinubu, to address the prevalent issue of ‘hunger in the land.’
In response to the growing food crisis and soaring commodity prices, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate release of over 102,000 metric tons of various grains from the National Food Reserve and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the measures as a temporary solution during a series of meetings of the Special Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention. Idris detailed the release of 42,000 metric tons of strategic reserve items and an additional 60,000 metric tons of rice from the Rice Millers Association to meet immediate needs, lasting up to two months.
