By Peter Amine
The Equity International Initiative and Citizens Coalition Against Corruption, one of the protesting groups against hardship in Nigeria, have called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the electricity tariff hike and restore fuel subsidy.
The group made the call on Thursday in Jos while briefing newsmen on the ongoing protest against hardship in the country.
The group’s spokesperson, Mr Chris Iyama, said that the electricity tariff hike and fuel subsidy removal need to be reversed to alleviate the sufferings of poor Nigerians.
Iyama said that the present electricity tariff was not only callous but also evil and anti people.
The spokesperson wants the government to take deliberate steps to ensure food security as farmers can no longer go to the farm due to incessant attacks.
“It has been alleged that the continuous attack on our farmers and destruction of farmlands in our local communities are being sponsored because they want to push Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into the market with support from multinational companies and big donors.
“We cannot fold our hands and allow this act of terrorism to continue in Nigeria.
“We therefore call on the President to declare a state of emergency on food security and submit an executive bill to ban GMOs for health and safety concerns.
“On import tariffs, we call on the president to give an executive order to customs officers at the borders to reduce import tariffs on imported goods.
“This will further reduce the prices of goods by more than 40 per cent.
“On insecurity, we call on the president to exercise his political will and fight insecurity decisively. The Nigerian security architecture should be reformed to fight insecurity so that farmers can go back to their farms and citizens can enjoy relative peace,” he said.
Iyama called on the president to caution security agencies to ensure the safety of all protesters across the country.
According to him, the protest was necessary for the sake of the unborn generation of Nigerian children who will inherit this country after the present generation.
The spokesperson said that the group stands united with the people in its mission to demand better governance and the protection of democratic rights.
He added that the voices of the people must be heard, and the government must act in the best interest of its citizens.
Mr Gad Shamaaki, a civil society activist, lauded the youth for speaking against the sufferings of Nigerians in a peaceful manner.
Shamaaki stated that people were hungry, but farmers could not go to their farms because of insecurity.
The activist called on the government to ensure that the economy works for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“The government has the responsibility to ensure that every child has a quality education and has access to a quality healthcare system.
“We want to see practical solutions to the challenges bedvilling the country because we have no other country than this one,” he said. NAN
