The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has challenged the Federal Government to allow Nigerians to breath in the face of the harsh economic realities as a result of increase in the price of premium motor spirit (Fuel).
President General of the forum, Yerima Shettima, while speaking on the pump price increase and the attendant hardship being experienced by Nigerians, said it was now becoming clearer that the present government may have lost touch with the reality on ground.
He said for the same government that appealed to Nigerians not to embark on protest with the promise to make life better, to all of a sudden wake up to add to the pains of her people is rather unfortunate.
The Arewa youth leader said; “Even the blind can see the hard situation and the deaf can also hear that the poverty and absolute hunger in the country is unbelievable and now to add to it is certainly high level of insensitivity and must be addressed accordingly.
“Today, prices of food stuffs is no longer within the reach of an ordinary Nigerian, and it is now clear that the increase in minimum wage to N70000 is nothing but a deceit because with the reality on ground it can not meet the needs of one person talk more of a family and now the said money can barely cover for their transportation to the work places in a month.
“For me, the Federal Government should have a rethink on the numerous challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must allow Nigerians to breath, because with the situation of things now, angry and hungry Nigerians are further being pushed to the wall and the reaction of an hungry and angry person may be unimaginable.”
Shettima therefore called on the government whose primary responsibility is welfare and wellbeing of her citizens to leave up to their responsibilities and let Nigerians feel the positive impact of the renewed agenda by making life and living better for Nigerians.
“The sudden increase in price of petrol has already created a multiplying effect on prices of not only food stuffs but in several other areas such as transportation among others.”
He therefore urged the Federal Government to urgently do the needful to avoid revolt from Nigerians and should as a matter of urgency give the wellbeing and welfare of Nigerians a priority.
