Niger youths won’t join planned nationwide protest – Bago

Niger state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said that the youths of the state will not join in the planned August 1-10 nationwide protest against hunger and economic hardship in Nigeria.

Bago said this in a town hall meeting with stakeholders held at the Justice Legbo Kutigi conference centre in Minna on Thursday, July 18, saying that the youths in the state are peaceful and would not be drawn into any protest.

He said: “We, as youths of Niger state, have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquillity. You can start demonstrations but you cannot end demonstrations. To youths who are agitating for this protest, let us end this agitation, let us communicate and dialogue on the best way forward.”

To assuage the economic hardship on the people, the governor announced the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of grains which would be sold at 50 percent of its present price calling 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.

Bago also announced his support for the autonomy of local governments but urged them to sit up as several of them could not pay salaries for a year.

He also said that the state government does not depend on FAAC to finance its projects or move the state forward.

He noted: “I do not need FAAC in Niger state. The roads I am building and the projects I have undertaken have not been 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 50 percent subsidy was originally meant for export but due to the hardship faced by the people, we have opened our warehouses to feed Nigerlites.”

The Emir of Bida and the chairman of the council of traditional rulers of Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Yahaya said that protest is not a way to go urging the youths not to join in the temptation of joining the planned nationwide protest.

The speaker of the House of Assembly, Honorable Abdulmalik Sarkindaji in his address also called on the youths of the state not to be part of the protest stating that the state will organize programmes for the youths to engage in while others are protesting in other states

Source: The Nation