Gbajabiamila, Ribadu, ministers in closed- door talks over protests
• We’re worried by rising living costs, Niger, Kano protests – FG • CSOS ask Nigerians to prepare for more protests
HOURS after protests erupted in some states across the country, the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, alongside some ministers were locked yesterday in a closed- door talks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which is of the Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention, began around 6: 00p. m. and had in attendance the Ministers of Education, Dr Tahir Mamman; Finance, Wale Edun; Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari and State for Agriculture, Mustapha Shehuri.
This is coming after angry youths and women took to the streets of Minna, Osun and Kano to protest what they described as the rising cost of living in the country, calling on President Bola Tinubu to address the problem of ‘ hunger in the land.’
The Federal Government has expressed worry over the situation. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Edun said the situation, which had produced growing discontent among the citizenry, was triggered by demand and supply forces.
Edun said the only way to address the situation was to boost agricultural production, in particular, to force down inflation.
Meanwhile, a coalition of Civil Societies Organisations ( CSOS) in Osun State yesterday asked poor Nigerians to prepare for massive protests following widespread insecurity and economic hardship in the country. The CSOS argued that there is no sense in the economic reforms embarked upon by the Federal Government under the leadership of President Tinubu, adding that the reforms have brought untold pains, suffering and deaths on masses.
These assertions were contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of the CSOS, Waheed Lawal and Secretary, Emmanuel Olowu.