Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has assured Nigerians that the youth in Niger will not participate in the nationwide strike planned for August 1-10, 2024, intended to protest the current economic hardship and hunger.
During a town hall meeting in Minna on Thursday, Bago emphasized that Niger State youths are peaceful and will not be drawn into the protest. He urged those planning the protest to reconsider, advocating for communication and dialogue instead.
Bago announced the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of grains to be sold at half their current price and called on security agencies to ensure compliance with this directive. He also promised that food prices would be slashed by 90% before the year’s end.
Expressing his support for local government autonomy, Bago criticized some local government chairmen for their inability to pay salaries for a year. He highlighted that the state government does not rely on FAAC (Federation Account Allocation Committee) funds for its projects, as the state is self-sustaining through production and investments.
The Emir of Bida, Abubakar Yahaya, and the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, also urged the youths to refrain from participating in the planned protest. They suggested that the state would organize programs to engage the youth constructively.