Protests Against Economic Hardship are Sponsored – Sen Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has asserted that some of the ongoing street protests across the nation, triggered by the escalating cost of living, are financially backed.

Various states, including Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo state, have witnessed sporadic protests, reflecting the citizens’ frustration with the prevailing economic challenges. Residents in Niger, Kano, and Sokoto states have also taken to the streets to voice their concerns.

The surge in inflation in Nigeria can be traced back to President Bola Tinubu’s decision to terminate the petrol subsidy and unify the exchange rate in 2023.

Addressing the issue on Tuesday during a session in the upper legislative chamber, Akpabio highlighted that many protesters may not be aware of the extensive efforts made by both the senate and the federal government to address the situation.

Akpabio expressed, “You can see a lot of sponsored protests here and there, but those people are not aware — most of those sponsored protesters are not aware of the kind of efforts made by this senate to tackle the situation together with the management team of the federal government.”

He went on to cite unverified reports suggesting that state governments have recently received an additional N30 billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to assist in alleviating the food situation, beyond their regular allocations from the federation account.

Emphasizing the need for responsible utilization of these funds, Akpabio stated, “So we believe that every state government should utilize the funds received towards ensuring that food is available.”

The Senate President reassured the public that the national assembly would not approve any measures that do not ultimately benefit the citizens.