As the nationwide protests continue across Nigeria, some residents of Katsina under the umbrella of a group, ‘’Struggling for Good Governance’, have urged the Federal Government to address the problems of insecurity and poverty.
The protesters, under the leadership of Malam Habibu Ruma, converged on Thursday at the Government House Roundabout, Modoji-Katsina.
Ruma, in his speech, said the protest aimed to address some critical issues that have for long plagued the nation, affecting the quality of life, economic stability, and governance.
“This protest is a call to action, demanding immediate and tangible changes to policies that impact
the daily lives of citizenș.
“The issues at the forefront of this movement include insecurity.
” We demand the government to strengthen the capabilities of security agencies through better training, equipment, and intelligence sharing.
“And demanding governments to also implement community policing initiatives to involve local communities in maintaining security.
“Government should also address root causes such as poverty, unemployment, and political instability, through comprehensive social and economic policies,” he said.
According to Ruma, the youths are also demanding for the enhancement of border security to prevent the influx of illegal arms, and also to combat human trafficking.
Other demands of the protesters from the government are to end economic hardship, promote economic diversification to reduce reliance on a single sector and create more job opportunities.
He said that the other demands were: “To implement social welfare programmes to support the most vulnerable populations, encourage SMEs through grants and loans.
“To return fuel subsidy, return electricity subsidy, reduce tertiary institutions’ fees, end high cost of governance, reduce high salaries and allowances of political office holders, and also to stop International loans and tảxes.”
According to Ruma, these recommendations aim to inform policy decisions and advocate for a comprehensive strategy to address the nation’s most pressing challenges.
Meanwhile, the nationwide protests against the current economic hardship have crippled socio-economic activities in some parts of Katsina State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondents who monitored the situation observed that the protestors took to the streets, escorted by some security personnel.
The Correspondent of the Daily Trust in Katsina, Tijjani Ibrahim, was allegedly beaten by some people suspected to be security agents when they realised he was a reporter trying to cover the protest.
He said: “I received two heavy blows on my face and they attempted to snatch my phone. I had to run for my safety.”
The protestors were under the auspices of a group, “Struggle for Good Governance,’with placards with various inscriptions like: “End hunger”, “restore fuel subsidy” and “end economic hardships”, among others.
They moved round the metropolis and attempted to go to the Government House, but were denied access by the security operatives.
The protestors terminated there and dispersed; while other groups came out to show their grievances on the situation.
NAN further reports that the Katsina central market, some of the motorparks and major supermarkets in the city have remained closed.
Though banks were operating, not every customer was allowed entry, tas there was heavy security at the banks’ premises.
Majority of the small traders in the metropolis have also closed their shops for safety reasons.
Vehicular movements were also reduced drastically as few commercial motorcyclists and cars were moving round the city to convey passengers from one-place to another.
Most of the filling stations have opened and.were selling fuel to the customers.
Security agents were deployed to some strategic places, while others were patrolling the town to curtail the possible breakdown of law and order.
Reports from other local governments like Daura, Malumfashi, Funtua and Kankia indicated that people were going for their normal legitimate activities.
Others have however remained at home for the fear of what could follow up during the protests.
However, most of the filling stations and banks in those places were operating.
Some of the residents interviewed, lamented the hardship and urged the state and the Federal Government to hasten measures to address it.
Nura Musa, a trader, advised the protests’ organisers to them off because of the impact they could create.
“I think the protests are only creating another hardship because most of the people have closed their businesses for fear of looting.
“Let say we take three days like this, everyone will feel it, because majority of people go out to get what to eat daily,” he said
He, therefore, urged the governments and the organisers to go for dialogue.
Also, some protesters in their large numbers trying to gain access into the Government House, Katsina were spread with teargas by the security operatives around the area.
A NAN Correspondent who was at the government house covering the World Breastfeeding Day activities reports that the security operatives have been shooting the teargas sporadically.
Participants at the world breastfeeding day inside the government house have also complained that the teargas has made their children uncomfortable.
The protesters were trying to gain access into the government house, where many security operatives were strategically placed.
While contacted, the spokesman of the State Police Command in the state, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, told NAN that he was making contacts to compile a situation report.
Again, in Kaduna, some youths and women on Thursday came out enmasse to protest against hunger and bad governance along the Nnamdi Azikiwe bypass in Kaduna city.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent observed that some of the protesters were carrying placards reading: “We want employment”, “End Hunger and Insecurity”, among others.
Others were carrying fresh leaves chanting: “Ba ma yi” which means “We are not doing”, while cars plying the road were seen with leaves attached to them.
Meanwhile, shops, fuel stations and offices along the road were closed while the residents were seen standing beside the road, observing the protests.
As at the moment of filing this report, no violence was recorded.
However ,a resident of Bakin Ruwan area, who pleaded anonymity said there was a case of a cellphone theft earlier.
