BY: MUHAMMAD NURA TSAFE, MINNA
In the early hours of Monday, 5th February, some residents of Minna, the capital of Niger State, staged a peaceful protest highlighting the hardships they are facing due to the high cost of food.
Carrying placards expressing their plight, the protesters blocked the road from Kpagungu roundabout in Minna leading to Bidda.
Anonymous interviewees revealed that the high cost of food has forced some individuals into serious critical conditions, with many unable to afford staple foods like rice or maize due to their exorbitant prices.
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The protesters assert that this dire situation may lead to the collapse of marriages, and some families may not have the ability to provide food for their children.
In their response, the Niger State government stated that it is doing all it can to find a lasting solution to this hardship on Nigerites.
Addressing the protesters, State Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba said the state is working day and night to alleviate the suffering of the people, especially Nigerlites.
Comrade Garba called on the people of Kpagungu to remain calm, assuring them that the government is working tirelessly to alleviate the hardships faced by its citizens to the barest minimum.
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The Deputy Governor emphasized that the state government will persist in distributing palliatives to those facing economic challenges.
He further explained that the State Government is fully aware of the economic hardships its citizens are experiencing and advised them to stay calm, assuring that measures have been implemented to ease their suffering.
The protest, which lasted for an hour, delayed travelers from Minna, the state capital, to Bidda, which happens to be the busiest road.