Residents in Minna block roads protesting the high cost of living.

 

Residents of Minna, the capital of Niger State, voiced their frustration on Monday by staging a protest against the soaring cost of living in the country. The demonstrators, consisting of women and youths, took to the streets, blocking major roads in the metropolis while chanting protest songs. Despite the visible presence of security agents, including policemen, the protesters pressed on with their grievances.

Citing the escalating prices of essential food items and expressing dissatisfaction with the government's response to address the situation, the protesters sought to draw attention to their plight by obstructing key roadways. The Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, engaged with the protesters, acknowledging the challenges faced by families and assuring them that the government is actively working to alleviate the cost of living and mitigate the effects of the petrol subsidy removal.

Simultaneously, a war of words unfolded on Sunday between the Presidency and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding the state of the Nigerian economy and President Bola Tinubu's monetary policies. Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), used a post on X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the prevailing hunger in the nation, with basic commodities, including bread, becoming increasingly unaffordable for the average Nigerian. Responding swiftly, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, accused Atiku of adopting the role of a poor opposition-in-chief, asserting that the reforms initiated by the Tinubu government might bring immediate challenges but are designed to usher in prosperity in the medium and long terms.