Protests erupted in Oyo State on Monday due to the high cost of living, food inflation, and the current economic challenges in the country.
The demonstration took place in the Mokola area of Ibadan, the state capital, where many young people carrying placards sang songs to express their grievances.
Some of the placards had messages like ‘Stop food price increases and inflation’, ‘The poor are going hungry’, ‘Tinubu, remember your promises’, and others.
Despite the presence of armed policemen at the protest, the demonstrators peacefully rallied against the economic difficulties caused by the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates.
On Sunday, the police issued a warning that they would not tolerate any disturbances during protests in the state.
The protest in Oyo was part of a series of demonstrations in Kano, Minna, and other places, all driven by economic challenges such as the removal of petrol subsidies, food inflation, and high living costs.
Last Thursday, President Bola Tinubu instructed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, to collaborate with governors and crack down on individuals hoarding food supplies.
During a meeting with governors from all 36 states in Abuja last week, the President also stated that there would be no food imports and that he would not establish a price control board.
”What I will not do is to set a price control board. I will not also approve the importation of food,” the President said.
“We should be able to get ourselves out of the situation we found ourselves in, because importation will allow rent seekers to perpetrate fraud and mismanagement at our collective expense. We would rather support farmers with the schemes that will make them go to the farm and grow more food for everyone in the country.
”We must also look at the rapid but thoughtful implementation of our livestock development and management plans, including dairy farming and others,” the President stated.
The President has ordered the release of grains to help lower the cost of food items, but many Nigerians are still unhappy about the economic difficulties in the country.
