Niger youths won’t be part of planned protest, says governor

By Bala Yahaya, Minna

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago says he is optimistic that Niger youths will not participate in the planned nationwide protest set for August 1st to 10th 2024.

Bago made this known at a town hall meeting in Minna where he vowed that the youths in the state were peaceful and would not be drawn into any plan to protest the economic hardship in Nigeria.

“We, as youths of Niger state, have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquility,“ Bago said.

“You can start demonstrations but you cannot end demonstrations. To youths who are agitating for this protest, let us end these agitations, let us communicate and dialogue on the best way forward.”

The governor had also approved the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of grains which, he said, would be sold at 50 per cent of its present price, and called on security agencies to be on their toes in monitoring and ensuring that the directives are followed to the latter.

“We have over 100, 000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50 per cent of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food prices by 90 per cent,” he assured.

Bago who also announced his support for the autonomy of local governments and urged the local council chairmen to sit to their responsibilities.

He also boasted that the state government did not depend on FAAC to finance its projects or move the state forward.

“I do not need FAAC in Niger State. The roads I am building and the projects I have undertaken are not being done by FAAC. We are producing and that is the secret behind what we are doing. There are people who have invested in Niger State in the next five years,” Bago said.

“The food I am giving out at a 50 per cent subsidy was originally meant for export but due to the hardship faced by the people, we have opened our warehouses to feed Nigerlites.”

In his remark on the planned protest, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Abubakar Yahaya, urged the youths not to be tempted to embark on the planned nationwide protest, saying that the protest is not a way to go.

The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, also urged the youths of the state not to be part of the protest, stressing that the state would organize programmes for the youths to engage in.