Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has assured that youths in the state won’t be joining the planned nation wide protest.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that youths have been mobilising for nationwide protests against economic hardship and bad governance, beginning from August 1 to 10, 2024.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with religious and traditional leaders, Mr Bago said the youths in the state are peaceful and would not be drawn into any national protest.
He called on the youths planning the protest to bury the thought, saying, “We, as youths of Niger State, have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquilly.
“You can start demonstrations, but you cannot end demonstrations. To youths who are agitating for this protest, let us end these agitations, let us communicate and dialogue on the best way forward.”
The governor announced the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of grains, which, he said, would be sold at 50 percent of its present price, and called on security agencies to be on their toes in monitoring and ensuring that the directive is followed to the letter.
“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 percent of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food prices by 90 percent,” he assured.
Mr Bago, who also announced his support for the autonomy of local governments, urged the chairmen to sit up saying that several of them could not pay salaries for a year.
He also boasted that the state government did not depend on FAAC to finance its projects or move the state forward.
“I do not need FAAC in Niger State. The roads I am building and the projects I have undertaken are not being done by FAAC. We are producing, and that is the secret behind what we are doing. There are people who have invested in Niger State in the next five years.
“The food I am giving out at a 50 per cent subsidy was originally meant for export but due to the hardship faced by the people, we have opened our warehouses to feed Nigerlites.”
In his remarks on the planned protest, the Etsu Nupe and the Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers, Yahaya Abubakar, appealed to the youths not to be tempted to embark on the planned nationwide protest, saying itwon’t address the issues.
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