Fears over protest in Abuja
· School attendance drops
By Our Correspondents
Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory have joined citizens in other parts of the country to lament the edge-cutting hardship being experienced, warning of mass protest if the government fails to arrest the growing agitations.
There have been protests in some parts of the country from Niger, to Kano, Osun, Lagos and Rivers over the hardship on the streets.
There have been two protests in Niger State – Minna and Suleja. Suleja is less than 15 kilometers from Abuja.
Some Abuja residents who spoke to our correspondents say they can no longer afford to watch their families especially children starving and with no hope in sight as prices of basic foodstuff continue to skyrocket.
The price of a 50kg of local rice, Nigeria’s main staple, is over N77,000 per bag from N35, 000 as at May 2023.
Flour has also witnessed a 75% increment to N50, 000 per 50kg as against N28, 500 over 9 months ago.
A kilo of domestic gas that was N800 as at May 2023 now sells for N1, 400 representing 75% increment.
In December, the National Bureau of Statistics stated that the country’s inflation rate hit a 27-year high as headline inflation rose to 28.9 per cent.
The December headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.72 percent when compared to the previous month’s rate.
Some of those who spoke also wondered why government’s effort to shore up the value of the Naira was still not yielding results, describing it as “kalo-kalo (chance)” efforts.
“I am truly tired, fed up. I can’t meet my obligations as a father. I have three kids not like I own a football team, but see me struggling,” an Abuja man lamented.
He cautioned the government not “to take our patience for granted. All these excuses are exactly what former President Buhari was giving. We want results, and not blame trading,” the man who asked not to be named said.
Also, a school teacher in Karu expressed the worry that school attendance was dropping as most pupils perhaps are not feeding well and may not be able to trek the long distance or afford transport fare to school.
“The attendance is not encouraging. Quite a number of pupils are not regular in school again,” Mary, a teacher at a public school in Karu, a suburb of Abuja, said.
Another Abuja resident said he fears if the situation persists, there could be mass protest as have been witnessed in some states.
“The federal government is playing with a time-bomb. They should act fast to avoid a repeat of the #ENDSARS protest. If any happens now, they will be no hiding place for the elite. I do not wish that, but for how long can a people be pushed to the wall?” The resident, who preferred anonymity, stated.
In another development, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has confiscated 10 warehouses containing assorted foodstuffs in the Dawanau area of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state.
The commission’s chairman, Mr Muhyi Magaji, disclosed this to journalists on Sunday after confiscating the warehouses in Dawanau International Grains Market, Singer Market, and Kwari Textiles Market.
He said that owners of such warehouses were nowhere to be found during the operation, but those that were opened were stacked full of commodities, including spaghetti, rice, pasta, sugar, and other food items.
He said, “The owners have been issued notice to report to the commission preparatory to facing charges before the court of law for their illegal activities.
“As you can see, the commission has made true its promise that we are going to embark on a fight against the hoarding of essential commodities in the state.
“We started last Thursday, and we have made a significant impact towards stopping the instant rise in the price of essential commodities.”
