Nigeria @64: As Nigerian youths plan protest against hunger, FG reveals their next action

Keep up with latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing, follow our WhatsApp channel for more update. Click to Follow us

The organizers of the EndBadGovernance protest have also decided to go forward with plans to hold demonstrations around the nation, while the Federal Government is organizing a low-key Independence Day anniversary celebration.

For the second time since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, according to ZINGTIE, the FG declared on Thursday, September 26 that October 1st, Independence Day, would be observed on a low note owing to the national mood.

The reason for the low-key celebration was that President Tinubu’s administration understood and sympathized with all Nigerians over the economic circumstances they were going through, according to Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

But some activists calling for the removal of Nigeria’s corrupt government see the occasion as a springboard to keep up their protests against the exorbitant cost of living and other persistent issues plaguing the country.

Economic hardship

For the majority of Nigerians, the nation’s economic circumstances have gotten worse to the point of intolerability.

According to ZINGTIE, President Bola Tinubu’s announcement in May 2023 about the elimination of gasoline subsidies would cause Nigerians to experience unimaginable agony for which there is now no end in sight.

The National Bureau of Statistics announced on Friday, September 27, that nationwide prices for bread, eggs, beans, and rice have increased.

According to data released by NBS, the price of one kilogram of beans increased by 271.55 percent from N692.95 in August of last year to N2,574.63 in August of 2024.

In July 2024, the price of beans climbed by 5.31 percent on a month-to-month basis, to N2,444.81.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that the average price of one kilogram of loose local rice increased by 148.41 percent, from N 737.11 in August 2023 to N1,831.05 in August 2024. Month-over-month, the price increased by 3.65 percent.

Additionally, it was mentioned that the cost of medium-sized eggs (12 pieces) increased significantly, rising from N1,031.55 in August of last year to N2,289.19 in August of 2024—a gain of N121.92 percent.

On Saturday, our correspondent learned that the cost of a 50 kg bag of rice has suddenly increased to almost N100,000.

FearlessInOctober protests

The FearlessInOctober demonstration is a follow-up to the August hunger strike, during which young Nigerians, perplexed by their country’s economic circumstances, took to the streets to demand an end to it.

Leaders were alerted to the hardship of the populace despite the fact that the protest descended into violence and was taken over by non-state actors, resulting in the deaths of several protestors.

In its August report on Nigeria’s security situation, the security firm Beacon Security Intelligence stated that thirty people had died during the August 1–10 EndBadGovernance protests in seven states.

The bulk of the victims, according to BSI, died from gunshots, “possibly from law enforcement and unidentified armed actors.”

The research refuted the assertion made by security services, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, that the protest resulted in just seven deaths.

Nonetheless, the organizers asserted that the statewide protest on October 1 was sparked by President Bola Tinubu’s alleged deafness to their demands.

The organizers insisted that the demands made during the August protests were not met in a statement jointly signed by the Education Rights Campaign, ERC, Movement for Fundamental Change, MFC Youth Rights Campaign, YRC, Joint Action Front, JAF, and Pan-African Consciousness Renaissance, PACOR-Nigeria.

They urged Nigerians to participate in nonviolent demonstrations against “anti-poor policies,” such as the elimination of fuel subsidies, which according to them has birthed the experienced being in the nation.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.