Hundreds of demonstrators have hit the streets of Niger State protesting against the high cost of living in Nigeria.
The protesters marched on the streets chanting anti-government songs. Some had posters with “We Want Real Change!”, “Say No to Hunger!”, “We are not Slaves in our Country”, “Hardship is Unbearable” among others.
Some protesters have also occupied the Abuja-Kaduna expressway and attempted to speak with them but they declined.
The Federal and State governments had made several frantic effort to stop the protest, saying miscreants and enemies of democracy may hijack it.
Last week, Governor Mohammed Bago wooed residents of Niger with welfare packages to prevent the protest.
Bago had announced a N20,000 wage allowance for state and local government civil servants, ordered the immediate release of 50,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains to be sold at subsidised rates to alleviate the current economic hardship.
“We have over 100,000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves, out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50% of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food prices by 90%,” he had said at a townhall meeting.
In appreciation of their efforts in combating banditry, insurgency, and other criminal activities, the governor gave one Prado Jeep to each head of security agency in the state.
While the start date of the protests had been slated for August 1, some denizens said they would commence in July.
The government or security agencies are yet to react to the protest which held in Niger.