A group operating under the aegis of The Unemployed Youths Association of Nigeria, (UYAN) has dissociated themselves from the planned protest scheduled for 1st August, 2024, saying they do not have the need to join protest they described as primordial.
National President of the group, Comrade Ebi Clifford Zuofa speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja directed their members across the 774 Local Government Councils in Nigeria to back out of the protest.
The National president said, the association is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission with the purpose of advancing the Economic, developmental and Social interests of the unemployed youths of Nigeria irrespective of tribe, religion, political affiliation, gender or class, advocacy, enlightenment, engaging individuals/corporate organizations, government, hence, they should focus on their mandates.
The unemployed youths said: “As much as we believe in the right of all Nigerians to embark on a peaceful protest, we acknowledge that there is a propensity for Bandits to hijack the protestand therefore appeal to the entire youth to call off the action in the interest of Nigeria.
“The protest is tagged as hunger/end bad government protests which is could create opportunity for criminal elements to loot food stuffs around markets places and supermarkets. The UYAN leadership therefore distanced its members from the hunger protests aimed at looting food stuffs in the nearby supermarket.
“We therefore appeal to the federal government to address the Economic Crises by putting in place holistic measures by making the refineries to be in good condition of production. This alone will drastically reduce food prices and transportation of our local farm products. Nigeria is currently experiencing serious challenges owing to the hunger and financial downturn occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy, coupled with the high cost of food, transportation, high electricity tariff, insecurity and the continued depreciation of the Naira.
“The whole hardship started from the removal of fuel subsidies which resulted to cost of transportation of goods and services including fuel price. We believe once this decision is reverted, transportation of goods and services will dramatically reduce and cost of leaving will be affordable to all Nigerians.”
They called on President Bola Tinubu to increase the budgetary provisions for skills development and youth empowerment and address the economic crises by putting in place holistic measures as Nigeria is currently experiencing serious challenges owing to the hunger and financial downturn occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy, coupled with the high cost of food, transportation, high electricity tariff, insecurity and the continued depreciation of the Naira.
