In a unified display of discontent, a cohort of youths took to the streets of Osogbo, Osun State, in a peaceful demonstration, denouncing the escalating cost of living and urging swift governmental action.
Brandishing placards emblazoned with messages such as ‘Revise Unfavorable Policies’ and ‘Nigerians Struggling Amidst Economic Hardship’, the protesters congregated along MDS Road, Osogbo, underscoring the widespread frustration simmering in the populace.
Despite a heavy police presence, the youth fervently chanted songs echoing the collective angst stemming from the harsh economic realities plaguing many Nigerians.
In an impassioned address to the protesters, Mr. Waheed Lawal, Chairman of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition, vowed that the protest would persist until concrete measures were enacted by the Federal Government to alleviate the prevailing economic distress.
Lawal asserted, “The government must alleviate the plight of its citizens. Nigerians deserve better living conditions. What was promised as renewed hope has transmuted into renewed hardship. We reject this resurgence of hardship vehemently.”
He further emphasized the imperative for heightened security measures, citing escalating concerns over safety and the alarming rate of abductions, including those of monarchs, which have instilled widespread fear among citizens.
Meanwhile, echoing the sentiments of discontent, earlier in the week, youths and women mobilized protests in Minna and Kano, decrying the soaring cost of living.
In Niger, women blockaded the bustling Minna-Bida Road, urging urgent action to address the pervasive hunger gripping the populace.
Responding to the burgeoning food crisis, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate release of over 102,000 metric tons of assorted grains from the National Food Reserve and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria. This move, disclosed by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, seeks to provide immediate relief amidst the mounting economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
