Niger state youths will not be part of planned nationwide protest, says Bago

Umar Bago, governor of Niger, says youths in the state will not participate in the planned nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country.

There have been reports of a planned nationwide demonstration to protest economic hardship, inflation, bad governance, among others.

But speaking on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Minna, the state capital, Bago said youths in the state are peaceful people.

“We, as youths of Niger state, have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquillity,” 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 said 50,000 metric tonnes of grains have been released to be sold at 50 percent of its current price to ease the hardship experienced by citizens.

He assured Nigerians that food prices will reduce by 90 percent in the coming months.

“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 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.”

The governor also said that his administration does not rely on funds from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for road projects in the state.

“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.”