Prices of foodstuff have again gone up in major markets across the country as Nigerians engaged in panic buying in a bid to stock their homes before the planned nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest begins today.
This comes as last-ditch moves by the Federal Government to stop the protest failed to arrest the momentum generated by the organisers, who insisted the protest would go on as planned.
The protest organisers want an improvement in the soaring cost of living and a reversal of some harsh government policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy.
The subsidy removal, along with ongoing security issues in farming regions, has led to increased transportation costs and subsequent food inflation.
In a late rally to stop the demonstration, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, Wednesday, addressed an emergency press conference where he again admonished Nigerians to shun the proposed protest.
Other top officials also pleaded for the suspension of the protest, including the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Atiku Bagudu (Budget and Planning), Wale Edun (Economy) and presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, among others.
They reeled out all the people-oriented policies and programmes implemented by the Tinubu government and sought the understanding of Nigerians.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, also invited journalists for an urgent press conference at the force headquarters.
Also, the National Assembly held a plenary on Wednesday after cutting its recess short.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, addressed youths at a hastily convened town hall meeting at the National Assembly Complex, where he reiterated his appeal to the protest organisers to embrace dialogue with the Federal Government to find solutions to the hardship in the country.
The SGF in his remarks said the government recognised the right to protest but was wary of the planned protests being hijacked “by bandits, insurgents and other criminals.”
He added, “We, therefore, appeal to Nigerians of whatever persuasion, belief, demography, gender and status to shun calls for protests against hunger by prioritising peace and progress.
“For avoidance of doubt, the government of President Tinubu recognises the right to peaceful protest but circumspection and vigilance should be our watchword.
“The government is wary of the dangers associated with protests that are vulnerable to being hijacked by bandits, insurgents and other criminals. Rather, we request that dialogue should be advanced and we remain open to such.
“Our appeal is that Nigerians should please pursue the path of peace, dialogue and collaboration in addressing the challenges that collectively confront us.”
Akume outlined some interventions of the Tinubu-led administration in the 14 months since its inauguration on May 29, 2024, stating that the country was undergoing refining and recalibration and that economic growth remained a goal of the Federal Government.
“Within a space of 14 months of purposeful leadership, the administration has recorded tremendous accomplishments that laid the foundation for immediate, medium and long-term prosperity of Nigerians, in an inclusive manner.
‘’Mr. President approved a Wage Award of N35,000 for a period of six months to cushion the effect on workers. This award was higher than the minimum wage.
“Mr President has just signed into law a new National Minimum Wage Act which prescribed N70,000. This represents more than 100 per cent increase from the last minimum wage (N30,000) and takes retroactive effect from April.”
He added, “As part of the efforts of the FG to take development to the grassroots, the government approached the Supreme Court for a decision on the funding of LGAs in Nigeria. The favourable judgement has now set the LGA on the path to its financial and development autonomy.
“For the first time in our nation, the President created a stand-alone Ministry for the Youth that accounts for a large percentage of our population. Under the N35 billion Nigerian Education Loan Fund, approved beneficiaries have exceeded the 40,000 mark of the expected 70,000 beneficiaries.”
Afraid the protest might turn violent and restrict movement, following government’s failed move to stop it, panicky Nigerians stormed markets on Wednesday for last minute grocery shopping, to the delight of traders, who hiked prices of their food items.
“From the news, it appears this protest may not just be another rally. So, I came here to buy food and stock my home for, at least, two weeks. In case the protest goes beyond the stipulated time, my family and I would have something to eat,” Mrs Adeyinka Fakunle told one of our correspondents at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, on Wednesday.
Checks in the last two days showed that food items like rice, beans, yams, garri and noodles had again gone up about the fourth time in 2024 alone.
The impending protest had dominated discussions in the past couple of weeks, with officials in government, urging youths to rather dialogue than stage the protest, noting the possibility of the protests being hijacked by hoodlums and miscreants.
At the Garki International Market in Abuja, a 50kg bag of foreign rice, which previously sold for about N79,000 now sold for between N86,000 and N90,000. Yams which only a few weeks ago sold for N5,000 per tuber, sold for N7,000 per tuber and N28,000 for a set of 5.
A mudu (local measure of eight cups) of beans, previously sold for between N2,000 and N2,500, now sells for N3,500 while a mudu of garri, previously N1,300, sold between N1,400 and N1,500. A carton of Indomie noodles previously sold at N7,500 has gone up to N7,700 while a basket of Irish potatoes, sold previously at between N5,000 and N5,500, now sells for N6,000 per basket.
While some traders say they had to increase the prices of food products due to the cost price at depots and places where they purchased the items, others highlighted the difficulty in transporting the products to the market and the scarcity of some of the food items.
A trader, Cynthia Ogu, who sells food items, said, “For instance, I don’t sell eggs in bits anymore. I sell an entire crate, at N4,600. If I sell single, I may sell short. The Indomie (noodles) used to be N7,500. I buy at that amount but I have to make gains somehow, that’s why there is an extra N200. The Super Pack is N17,000 now. And I don’t give a discount; it used to be about N15,000. So, this is why the price is high.”
A visit to the Bwari market on Tuesday equally revealed significant price hikes; with a mudu of white beans selling for N2,600, up from the previous N2,500. Other varieties of beans were however sold for N2,800 and N3,000.
Musa Auwal, an onion seller, sold three onion bulbs for N500, a price that has left customers like Ojoniko Sunday concerned.
Meanwhile, a small bowl of Irish potatoes sold for N7,000, while new yams sold for N4,000 each. The cost of pepper had also risen, with a small basket of red pepper selling for N1,300.
Meanwhile, the Abuja Market Management Limited had over the weekend urged traders and market users to protect the markets from infiltrators who may want to cause mayhem while urging them not to participate in the protests.
In a statement on Sunday, the Acting Managing Director, AMML, Abbas Yakubu, stated, “Abuja Markets Management Limited has urged traders and other Market users in the Federal Capital Territory to support its effort and that of the Security Agencies in ensuring that the market is not infiltrated by people of ignoble intentions in the guise of peaceful protest.
“We have a history of protests and other incidents cascading into wanton destruction of properties in our markets; no responsible Management or trader will fold its hand and wait for it to repeat. That is why we are urging you all to mobilize your fellow traders, the wheelbarrow pushers, your apprentices, and everyone who has legitimate business in the markets, to resist any attempt at infiltrating the market by hoodlums in the guise of protest.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, urged the protesters to obey the court order restricting protesters to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park, Ketu.
He said, “My expectation is that the protest will be largely peaceful and we will perform our normal duty of ensuring that the general area is peaceful, devoid of any violence, and Lagos residents are allowed to go about their normal duties while the protesters are also given adequate protection to carry out their protest.
“A court order has even made it very easy for us. Protesters have been asked to converge on the popular Freedom and Peace parks, so, we will be there in large numbers to give them security coverage.”
In another twist, a Kwara Magistrate Court has ordered the organisers of the protest to restrict themselves to the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin, the state capital.
Granting an exparte order on Wednesday, the Chief Magistrate, Jibril Bio Salihu, said he agreed with the Attorney-General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, that the protest could degenerate into violence if protesters were allowed to do as they wished.
The respondents in the case are the Director State Security Service, Kwara State; Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command; Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps; Take it Back Movement; Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed and other unknown persons.
“After listening to Senior Ibrahim Sulyman Esq., Attorney General of Kwara State, the applicant herein and after a careful perusal of the 5 paragraphs affidavit as well as the written address in support of the motion ex-parte, the following orders are hereby granted,” according to the order signed by Chief Magistrate (DCR Litigation) Jibril Bio Salihu.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 4th-6th respondents whether by themselves, agents, privies, servants or any other person(s) acting through them to converge, carry, conduct any act or form of their proposed peaceful public protest, rallies, processions and or meetings in any other place other than Metropolitan Square/Asa Dam Road, Kwara State in the interest of the general public for a period of 7 days, effective from the 1st August, 2024.
“It is also ordered that the 1st-3rd respondents are directed to provide adequate security for the protection of lives and properties of all citizens and residents of Kwara State, as well as the infrastructure provided by the Kwara State Government against the 4th-6th respondents act, protest, or any form of protest for a period of 7days effective from the 1st August, 2024 or any other day pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“It is also ordered that all the court processes filed in respect of this suit be served on the 4th-6th respondents by pasting same at the High Court of Justice premises.”
The court adjourned further hearings in the case to 14th of August, 2024. – Punch.
