Agency
Voice of Women in Nigeria Leadership Initiative, a cross-section of Plateau women have appealed to the federal and state governments to address the lingering security challenges, hunger, and economic hardships currently confronting Nigeria.
The call was made by the coordinator of the group in the state, Mrs Lois Gotom, during a peaceful protest organised on Saturday in Jos.
He noted that the current economic downturn and insecurity had inflicted untold hardship on Nigerians, particularly women and children.
Gotom expressed worries over the current challenges, which he noted had led to loss of lives and property, and called on President Bola Tinubu to use his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ to bring assistance to the people.
He said, ”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.”
The coordinator Gotom maintained that Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural and human resources, and called on leaders at all levels to harness these potentials to better the lots of the people.
He added, ”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.
”So, this peaceful rally is a way of speaking on behalf of millions of ordinary Nigerians to have their voices heard.”
(NAN)
