*Say, ‘Stop the increase of food and inflation’, ‘Tinubu, remember your promises’
Young people, on Monday, in large numbers took to the streets of Mokola in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, South West Nigeria, to protest against the rising cost of living, food prices and the economic crisis in the country.
They held placards with messages such as ‘Stop the increase of food and inflation’, ‘The poor are hungry’, ‘Tinubu, remember your promises’, and others.
The police, who had issued a warning against any disruption of peace yesterday, were present at the protest site, where the protesters peacefully expressed their grievances over the economic situation caused by the removal of fuel subsidy and the harmonization of the foreign exchange rates.
The protest in Oyo was similar to those that happened in Kano, Minna, and other places, over the same economic issues.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, last Thursday, instructed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; to collaborate with governors and pursue those who are hoarding food items.
The President, who had a meeting with the governors of the 36 states in Abuja last week, also rejected the idea of importing food items or setting up a price control board.
“I will not set up a price control board. I will not also allow the importation of food,” the President said.
“We should be able to solve the problem we are facing because importing food will enable rent-seekers to exploit and mismanage our common resources. We prefer to assist farmers with programs that will encourage them to farm and produce more food for everyone in the country.
”We must also look at the rapid but thoughtful implementation of our livestock development and management plans, including dairy farming and others,” the President stated.
The President had also ordered the release of grains to ease the rising cost of food items but many Nigerians continue to express their displeasure over the economic hardship in the country.
