PeakNews Online
Abuja, Nigeria – July 16, 2024: Nigerian youths are gearing up to join the planned nationwide protest in response to escalating inflation and soaring food prices.
The widespread agitation has emerged, culminating in plans for a nationwide protest across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Despite the Federal Government’s recent announcement of dispatching 740 trucks of rice to all states and the FCT—each receiving 20 trucks containing 1,200 bags of 25kg rice—the protest organizers remain undeterred. Scheduled between August 1 and 10 and tagged “Sóró Sókè” (a Yoruba phrase meaning “speak out”), the protests aim to address the severe economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
Prominent Islamic scholar Sheik Ahmad Gumi has lent his voice to the cause, encouraging Nigerians to express their grievances and push for governmental change. He expressed confidence that peaceful protests could effectively communicate public demands for improved governance and development.
A circulating social media flyer titled “End Bad Government in Nigeria 2024” lists ten government policies that organizers claim have exacerbated the nation’s hardships. Key demands include reversing fuel prices to below N300 per liter, reducing tertiary education fees, lowering electricity tariffs, reinstating previous import duty rates, and cutting the salaries and allowances of lawmakers.
The prospect of nationwide protests has unsettled public office holders, particularly lawmakers. Last week, the Senate expressed concerns over potential attacks from disgruntled citizens. The discussion followed a motion titled “Urgent Need to Address Food Insecurity and Market Exploitation of Consumables in Nigeria,” sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi Steve (Kogi West) and co-sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume Mohammed (Borno South).
Former Senate President Ahmed Lawan warned that Nigerians’ patience is wearing thin and urged immediate action to alleviate hunger and economic distress. “If we don’t take immediate action, we will lose the power and our citizens under the situation of increased fuel price, increased electricity price, increased everything,” he said.
Sheik Gumi, in a video shared on social media, recalled past protests led by former President Muhammadu Buhari against President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, emphasizing that protests have historically been effective in pushing for change.
Meanwhile, Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North East), cautioned youths in the North East against participating in the protests. He urged them to focus on constructive activities, emphasizing the government’s awareness of current hardships and its efforts to implement long-term solutions, including palliative measures.
Abba highlighted the importance of farming as a means to alleviate difficulties and praised initiatives like the recently inaugurated Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU) by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
On June 12, civil society groups, including the Take It Back Movement, Education Rights Campaign, Coalition for Revolution, and Socialist Workers League, organized protests against rising living costs, insecurity, and other critical issues. Protesters carried placards with messages such as “President Tinubu, let the poor breathe,” “Pay living wages to all Nigerian workers now,” “End insecurity,” “Nationalize the power sector,” and “Reverse fee hikes now.”
As the nation braces for the planned demonstrations, the call for change echoes louder, reflecting the urgency of addressing the pressing socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians.
