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Nigeria’s acting president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has in a matter of immediacy reacted to ongoing nationwide protests saying the messages of protesters have reached the Presidency loud and clear.
Acting President Osinbajo reacted to the protests as a matter of urgency in his opening remarks at today’s consultative forum between the Economic Management Team and the Private Sector on the Economic Recovery Growth Plan, which is to be launched later this month.
“We hear you loud and clear, those who are on the streets protesting the economic situation and even those who are not, but feel the pain of economic hardship. We hear you loud and clear. You deserve a decent life and and we are working night and day to make life easier,” Osinbajo said.
Angered by the socio-economic situation of the country, protesters took to the streets in various cities of Nigeria today campaigning against bad leadership that has sprung the country into recession, which many have said there is no recovery in sight.
“It is always as if we are back at where we started in 2010,” said Chude Jideonwo of Red Media, PR company used during President Muhammadu Buhari presidential election campaign.
“Anger is good,” Jideonwo said, questioning that “When people are unhappy, what are they supposed to do?”
He said, “People are angry because of all what government has done, and they deserve to be” angry.
One Voice Nigeria has listed some other reasons for the protests. One Voice Nigeria said that before, a 12.5kg of gas used to be 2,500 naira but now goes for 5,300 naira. They said kerosene, which the poor masses use for daily cooking and lighting, which sells for 100 naira per litre now sells for 500 naira per litre.
The protesters say a bag of rice which used to be 8,000 naira previously has remained high at 23,000 naira.
Other commodities, which prices have increased astronomically, the protesters listed to be affecting the masses are premium motor spirit, diesel, semovita, guinea corn, cement, roofing sheet, dollar, printing paper, pen, tyre, beans, flour, palm oil, peak milk and garri.
Even the prices of kulikuli, Indomie noodles and sugar were not left out.
“I know that uppermost in your minds today is the economic crisis, the recession for many individuals and families is real,” Osinbajo said, adding that “For some, it means not being able to pay school fees, for others it is not being able to afford the high cost of rice, millet, or of local or international travel. And for many of our young people the recession means joblessness, sometimes after graduating from university or polytechnic”.
“I know how difficult things are, and how rough business is. All my adult life I have always earned a salary, and I know what it is like when your salary simply is not enough. In every part of our nation people are making incredible sacrifices,” the acting president added.
He, however, said that “The journey out of the damage caused by years of neglect and corruption is bound to be difficult but there is a glorious light at the end of the tunnel,” concluding by saying “Let us work together, steadfastly and patiently for the economic change that will come very soon”.