•Bags of grains are offloaded from a truck
The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Shehu Gabam has faulted the federal government’s palliative measures, saying the move falls short of addressing the economic hardship in the country.
“The palliative processes the government has brought in have no elemental effects. Recently, I saw the distribution of 20 trailers of rice to almost all the states of the federation. It cannot take care of Nyanya alone if distributed in Abuja today,” the SDP chairman said on Channels Television last night.
The prices of food items have moved through the rooftops, reaching new levels. Despite measures by the government including the distribution of grains to governors and calls for patience, Nigerians continue to be hit hard by the ballooning cost of living.
Gabam is unhappy about the development, linking it to supply issues.
“The food supply chain of the country has been cut off tremendously and that is why the foodstuff has gone to the roof,” he said.
“Now, if you compare this with what people are earning and what people are struggling to do to keep life going, you will know that these are almost inevitable.”
The high cost of living has led to calls for protest across the country. The government has met stakeholders as part of a last-minute push to avert the demonstrations.
President Bola Tinubu has also called on the organisers to stop the planned protest, saying he is aware of the challenges facing Nigerians.
However, Gabam wants the Nigerian leader to do more. He is advocating a national broadcast by the president to reassure citizens of his commitment to addressing their grievances.
