Plateau women, represented by the Voice of Women in Nigeria Leadership Initiative, are urging both the federal and state governments to address the persistent security challenges, hunger, and economic difficulties prevalent in Nigeria.
During a peaceful protest organized in Jos on Saturday, Mrs. Lois Gotom, the coordinator of the group in the state, voiced the appeal. She emphasized that the ongoing economic downturn and insecurity have inflicted severe hardships on Nigerians, especially women and children.
Expressing concern over the toll these challenges have taken on lives and property, Gotom called on President Bola Tinubu to leverage his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ to assist the people.
”It has become imperative for us to organise this peaceful protest as concerned women because the worsening hunger and insecurity are affecting both the young and old, with women being the most hit as managers of the home front.
”The Voice of Women in Leadership Initiative is one of the many groups in Nigeria that is deeply concerned over the bad situation in the nation.
”The government’s inability to control prices of commodities is leading to acute hunger and starvation; the scourge of hunger and insecurity in our dear country is a sad reality.
”We, therefore, call on government at all levels to put machinery in motion to check price control and this will help in this daily indiscriminate rise in prices of goods and services,” she said.
Gotom, who maintained that Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural and human resources, called on leaders at all levels to harness these potentials to better the lots of the people.
”It is no longer news that we wake up every day with different news; the daily increase in prices of goods and services, transportation fares, kidnapping, armed robbery, and killing of innocent citizens.
”During his campaign, President Tinubu promised Nigerians a lot; in fact, he promised to improve the security of lives and property and invest the funds from the removal of subsidy to better the lives of Nigerians.
”Sadly, women and children are dying in their numbers; in 2023, for instance, fifty to sixty per cent of our land was not cultivated due to insecurity,” she claimed.
”So, this peaceful rally is a way of speaking on behalf of millions of ordinary Nigerians to have their voices heard,” Gotom noted.
The coordinator, however, called on Nigerians to support and pray for the nation’s leaders to ensure that the current situation is addressed.
(NAN)