The Niger State Governor, Umar Mohammed Bago, has urged residents in the state to be calm as the government diligently works to find a lasting solution to the economic challenges.
During a press briefing at the government house addressing journalist on the protest that occurred in the early hours of Monday, Governor Bago acknowledged the unrest among some women and youths in Kpagungu area, protesting on the hardships and advocating for a reduction in the price of food commodities.
“Both the state government and the federal government are actively working day by day, holding meetings to address the situation in the country.”
He emphasized that the protest was coordinated by some miscreants in the area to cause confusion in the state, adding that security personnel intervened and quelled the rioting, actively working to get to the root of the issue.
“I have communicated with the Vice President and the National Security Adviser (NSA), ensuring that we actively manage the current situation.”
Addressing the protesters during at the area, the Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba affirmed that the state government is working day and night to alleviate the suffering of the people, especially Nigerlites. He called on the people of Kpagungu to remain calm, assuring them of ongoing efforts by the state government to alleviate the hardships.
The Deputy Governor also emphasized that the state government will persist in distributing palliatives to those facing economic challenges.
He further explained that the State Government is fully aware of the economic hardships its citizens are experiencing and advised them to stay calm, assuring that measures have been implemented to ease their suffering.
In the early hours of Monday, 5th February, some residents of Minna, the capital of Niger State, staged a peaceful protest highlighting the hardships they are facing due to the high cost of food. Carrying placards expressing their plight, the protesters blocked the road from Kpagungu roundabout in Minna leading to Bidda.
Some protesters, who spoke with the Voice of Nigeria, mentioned that the high cost of food has forced some individuals into serious critical conditions, with many unable to afford staple foods like rice or maize due to their exorbitant prices.
The protesters asserted that this dire situation may lead to the collapse of marriages, and some families may not have the ability to provide food for their families.
The protest, lasting for an hour, caused delays for travelers from Minna, the state capital, to Bidda, which is the busiest road.
