Residents protest high cost of living in Niger State, block roads

Protesters have blocked major roads and arteries in Minna, the Niger State capital to demand a respite in the high cost of living.

 

The protesters, including women and youths were heard chanting protest songs, while security agents including policemen looked on.

 

 

The protesters said the rising cost of food items and poor government effort to arresting the situation forced them to block major roads so that government will hear their cry.

 

 

 

The Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, while addressing the protesters, said the government is aware of their pain and hardship families are faced with at this time.

 

Nigerians haven’t enjoyed any respite in inflation since 2016. The situation became worse in 2023 after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced an end in fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the nation’s currency from about N465 to a dollar to now N1, 400 to the same dollar.

 

The two pronged policies have resulted in unabated inflation which has been running at historical speed. Food inflation has become particular troubling as it has been jumping beyond the reach of Nigerians.

 

In the December 2023 data released by the National Bureau of Statistics which measures Consumer Price Index, Food inflation rose to 33.93% on a year-on-year basis, which was 10.18% points higher compared to the rate recorded in December 2022 (23.75%).

 

Minna residents are protesting over hike in coat of surviving.

I just pray this revolution doesn't start in the North o 🙏 pic.twitter.com/OHS33htY4H

— Lawrence I. Okoro ( Sir Law ) (@LawrenceOkoroPG) February 5, 2024