Hardship: Niger Governor, Bago moves to avert protest in the state

***rolls out welfare packages

In a move to avert the nationwide planned protest scheduled for August in Niger state, the Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has rolled out welfare packages and palliatives to some segments of the state, starting with the approval of N20,000 wage allowance to state and local government civil servants in the State.
The Governor also ordered the immediate release of 50,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains to be sold at a subsidized rate to the people of the state for cushioning the current economic hardship in the state.

The Governor who announced this in Minna on Thursday during a town hall meeting on the state of the state affairs, said that the grains would be sold at 50 per cent of its present price in the market.

He called on security agencies to be on alert and ensure strict monitoring of the sales of the grains.
He disclosed that the state government is releasing 50,000 metric tonnes out of the 100,000 metric tonnes in the government warehouses.

“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 per cent of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food price by 90 per cent”, he assured.
In a show of appreciation for their efforts in the war against bandits, Insurgents and other criminal elements in the state, the governor announced a gift of one prado jeep to each of the heads of security agencies in the state.
Also among the beneficiaries of the governor’s welfare were the state indegents students who had their scholarships allowance increased from N2.5billion to N12billion and one 18-seater bus to the National Association of Niger State Students (NANIS).
The 25 local government Chairmen were equally not left out as each got a jeep as official vehicle to ease movement.
He also threw his weight behind the autonomy of the local government councils in the country.
The Governor said that the youths in the state will not join in the planned August 1-10 nationwide protest against hunger and economic hardship in Nigeria, insisting that they are peaceful and would not be drawn into any protest.
“We, as youths of Niger state, have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquility. “You can start demonstration but you cannot end demonstrations. To youths who are agitating for this protest, let us end these agitation, let us communicate and dialogue on the best way forward”.
Continuing, Bago said his administration does not depend on FAAC to finance its projects or move the state forward, “I do not need FAAC in Niger state. The roads I am building, the projects I have undertaken are not been done with FAAC.
“We are producing and that is the secret behind what we are doing. There are people who have invested in Niger state in the next five years.
“The food I am giving out at 50 per cent subsidy was originally meant for export but due to the hardship faced by the people, we have opened our warehouses to feed the people of the state”
The Emir of Bida and the Chairman of the council of traditional rulers of Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Yahaya said that the nationwide planned protest is not the way to go as it can never solve any problem.
He therefore urged the youths in the state not to be tempted to join the nationwide planned protest in the interest of peace and stability of the state and the country in general.
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honorable Abdulmalik Sarkindaji in his address also called on the youths of the state not to be part of the protest stating that the state will organize programmes for the youths to engage in while others protest in other states.