BY: ABDULLAHI ALHASSAN, KADUNA
The Network of Peace Journalists Kaduna ( NPJK ) has urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on food security in the country in a plea to alleviate the growing economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
The increasing day-by-day high cost of living, affecting millions, particularly women and children, has raised concerns among media experts.
Mallam Ibrahim Yakubu, the team leader of NPJK, issued a press release this morning, calling on the government to address the artificial scarcity and hoarding of goods by some marketers, reminding them of the impending judgment day.
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Expressing deep concern over the critical situations faced by women, children, and the elderly due to the high cost of living, Yakubu emphasized, “Economic hardship is biting hard on Nigerians, necessitating urgent measures to alleviate the stress faced by family providers.”
Yakubu attributed the surge in prices of goods and services to the fuel subsidy removal, which has inflicted untold hardship on Nigerians in various aspects of their lives.
He urged the government to implement practical measures to ease the ongoing hardship.
He further called for a meeting between all 36 state governors and President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to urgently declare a state of emergency on food security. Reports suggest that some marketers are taking advantage of the holy month of Ramadan by hoarding goods, exacerbating the situation.
The ripple effect is affecting every Nigerian, with the rising costs of commodities like eggs and sugar on a daily basis. Yakubu pleaded with the government to provide sufficient palliatives, acknowledging that the token assistance rolled out is insufficient to sustain the Nigerian people for an extended period.
Yakubu highlighted the worsening economic hardship as a factor fueling youth battles with depressio. He called on the government to address the challenges promptly.
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The recent removal of fuel subsidy, the depreciation of the naira, an impending increase in electricity tariff, and the introduction of Value Added Tax on diesel have further heightened the cost of living, pushing many Nigerians into untold hardship.
In response to the escalating crisis, the NPJK appealed to the federal government to take immediate action.
They called on philanthropists to support the less privileged with adequate palliatives. As Nigerians grapple with the increasing challenges, urgent and practical solutions are crucial to alleviate the hardships faced by the citizens