Group of women on Monday protested against the planned August 1, 2024 Nationwide protest in Abuja just as another group of young Nigerians came out to block Abuja-Kaduna highway demanding end to bad governance in the country.
The Women groups in Abuja staged the protest against the planned nationwide demonstrations over economic hardships.
Many Nigerians have described the women action as an irony of protesting to stop a protest, with some calling it a misuse of resources and questioning the motives behind the rally.
Also, “Say No To Protest” was held in Lagos on Monday to kick against the planned protest.
The “Say No to Protest” Nigerian women in Abuja came out in mass and were spotted dancing as a way of protesting against people planning the August 1, 2024 Nationwide Protest over what many described as alarming rate of hunger and hardship currently in Nigeria.
While the women in Abuja was protesting, in a bold move, anti government protesters blocked the Kaduna Road highway, a critical link between Kaduna and Abuja, just three days ahead the planned 10-day nationwide protest.
The demonstrators, carrying placards with messages like “We Are Not Slaves” and “Hardship Is Unbearable”, chanted anti-government slogans, expressing their frustration with the country’s economic situation.
The protesters demanded an improvement in the cost of living and a reversal of government policies, particularly the reinstatement of petrol subsidies. Nigeria is grappling with its worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, with food prices more than doubling since President Bola Tinubu removed subsidies and floated the naira.
The government has been trying to prevent the protests, meeting with traditional rulers, clerics, and other groups, while security agencies warn of potential violence. However, the protesters seem determined to make their voices heard, refusing to wait for the planned nationwide strike on Thursday.
Another protest took place in Lagos state on Monday when a group of disgruntled MTN subscribers took their frustration to the company’s FESTAC office in Lagos on Monday, damaging the office fence.
The incident was sparked by the telecom company’s recent blocking of phone numbers due to non-compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage requirement, according to reports.
Many subscribers have been affected by the blockage, leading to widespread discontent and protests at MTN offices across the country.
The protesters expressed their disappointment and frustration at being unable to access their phone services.
Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has called on Nigerians to cancel the planned Nationwide protest, saying, the government led President Bola Tinubu is working towards an improved living standards of people in the country.
In a statement signed and made available by Musa Abdulrahaman, the media aide to the Minister of Women Affairs, the ministry said and in quote: “the Federal Government has called on Nigerians to shelve the planned nationwide protest as government is working assiduously towards ensuring an improvement in the living standards of the people
Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye made the call today during a Women Rally organised by the Ministry at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja.
She explained that government was not oblivious of the plight of the people, noting that this informed the provision of sustainable empowerment machines by the Ministry to 16 States of the Federation, including the FCT, Abuja, with a view to equipping women to earn and contribute to their family upkeep as well as nation at large.
Kennedy-Ohanenye assured that plans are also underway to ensure the distribution of these machines to other States of the Federation in line with their specific needs so as create more job opportunities and ensure poverty alleviation in the country
The Minister added that the resumption of the Cash Transfer Programme by the present administration with modalities being in place for the reduction of food prices as well as other reforms put in place by the Administration would soon yield the desired results.
*We don’t want this protest, we don’t want our children to die, if there is protest, it shatters the economy*, she said.
The Niger Delta Ijaw leader, Asari Dokubo who graced the occasion called for more patience and support to enable the realization of government’s policies and programmes which are tailored towards economic stability, enhancing security as well as ensuring an improvement in the living standards of the people.
Others who graced the Rally was the President, National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS) Comrade Lucky Emonefe, President of Ijaw Youth Council, Representatives of NLC, RTEAN, NURTW, TUC, e.t.c”
No comments:
Post a Comment