Sokoto youths join #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest

Youths in Sokoto State on Thursday morning trooped out in their large numbers to join their counterparts from across the country in the national protest against hunger.

Nigerians are protesting against economic hardship and #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria in the West African country.

Our correspondent who monitored the protests gathered that youths had placards with different placards.

One of the protesters, Abdullahi Aliyu, who spoke with our correspondent at the entrance gate of the state government house, lamented over the high cost of foodstuffs in the state.

He called on the government, especially at the federal level, to review some of its policies to let the poor in the society breathe.

“We have to join the protests to add our voice to what is happening in the country, we cannot continue like this in this country.

“Our leaders must find a way to balance the situation, you cannot be claiming to be working for us while the people you are working for are starving to death, enough is enough”.

While some of the protesters were relatively peaceful with the presence of security presence at the Round Meruwa Roundabout,  another set of protesters also gathered at the Sultan’s palace to express their grievances.

They appealed to the Federal Government to review its economic policies.

Mallam Saidu Abubakar, a motorist who spoke with our correspondent commended the Nigerian Police and other security agencies for being able to control the situation without any reported case of violence in the state.

Meanwhile, in Kwara State, major roads in Ilorin, state capital, were deserted.

Although there was a heavy security presence at government facilities, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, courts, and the government secretariat, banks and government offices were closed as workers did not report to work due to the anticipated protest expected to commence today.

Offices at the Kwara State secretariat were also closed due to fears of the protest.

Our correspondent observed that shops and banks in major commercial areas of the town, including the General Post Office, Challenge, Murtala Mohammed Road, Maraba, Taiwo, Agaka, and Oja Oba, were securely locked as traders did not open their stores.