Just like residents of Kano and Minna, amongst others, Oyo state youths hit the streets on Monday in protest over economic hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal, food inflation, and high cost of living.
Taking place in the Mokola area of Ibadan, throngs of youths marched with placards, chanting ‘Tinubu ole’ and voicing their demands.
Among the placards were messages like ‘End food hike and inflation’, ‘End Bad Government,’ ‘This is Renewed Shege’, and ‘ Tinubu, don’t forget your promises,’ among others.
They urged President Bola Tinubu to address insecurity, hunger, and rising costs of living in the country, saying they were fed up with the current situation. They demanded solutions from the government.
Last Thursday, during a meeting with governors from all 36 states in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; to collaborate with governors in hunting down individuals engaged in hoarding food supplies.
Also, he firmly rejected the idea of importing food items and stated his opposition to establishing a price control board, saying:
“What I will not do is to set a price control board. I will not also approve the importation of food,”
“We should be able to get ourselves out of the situation we found ourselves in, because importation will allow rent seekers to perpetrate fraud and mismanagement at our collective expense. We would rather support farmers with schemes that will make them go to the farm and grow more food for everyone in the country.
“We must also look at the rapid but thoughtful implementation of our livestock development and management plans, including dairy farming and others,” the President stated.
While the president, in his words, continues to seek measures to manage the situation, many Nigerians continue to express their displeasure over the economic hardship and soaring cost of living in the country.