Violent protests erupted on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, in Ilorin, Kwara state over the hardship encountered by residents following the rejection of old naira notes by traders and commercial transporters.
The protests started from the Oko-Olowo market axis and spread to Oloje, Alore, Omoda, and Adangba areas of the Ilorin metropolis.
Motorists deserted the roads as tires were set on fire to disrupt the free flow of traffic, while commuters were stranded while the protests lasted.
Daily Post findings revealed that trouble started from the Oko-Olowo market in the outskirts of the state capital following disagreements over the rejection of old naira notes for transactions between traders and transporters.
The situation has, however, been brought under control by the state police command, and normalcy restored, with five suspects now in police custody in connection with the incident.
Reacting, the Kwara State Police Command said “I woke up to an unlawful burning of disused tires on some major roads in the Ilorin Metropolitan Area this morning, inspite of the earlier warning by the Command against such unwholesome behaviour by hoodlums in the wake of the Naira note swap.
A statement by the spokesman of the command SP Okasanmi Ajayi, in Ilorin on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, said the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Police Command, CP Paul Odama, has ordered aggressive motorized and foot patrols of the metro.
He advised parents and guardians to warn their children or wards to avoid being used as canon-fodders by disgruntled political activists, as anyone arrested in the process of committing any crime, either as a result of the fuel or Naira challenges, would be made to face the consequences of such actions alone.
“Once again, the good people of Kwara State are advised to go about their lawful daily endeavours. Enough security arrangements have been placed across the length and breadth of Kwara State to ensure the safety and security of law-abiding citizens and residents,” the statement added.
‘Your protests don’t move me’ – Tinubu Dares Nigerians As He Vows To Remove Fuel Subsidy
Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has warned that no amount of protests from Nigerians would stop his administration from removing fuel subsidy if elected.
He frowned at a situation the Federal Government would be subsidising fuel consumption in neighbouring Africa like Cameroon, Niger, and Benin Republic.
In a statement on Friday, December 23, 2022, by Tunde Rahman, Tinubu Media Office, after a business luncheon with business owners entitled: “Business Forward” in Lagos, the APC candidate promised to turn Nigeria’s present challenges into opportunities for growth and development.
He also promised to work towards creating a better security in the country to give them an enabling environment to do their businesses.
The APC candidate said since it was the responsibility of government to secure lives and properties of citizens, his administration, if elected, would make that its priority, the same way he did as Lagos State governor.
Addressing the issue of fuel subsidy and what he intends to do as president, he promised to take bold decisions that would turn the economy around and one of such will be a firm decision on fuel subsidy, stressing that Nigeria will not continue to subsidise fuel consumption in neighbouring countries.
“How can we be subsidising fuel consumption of Cameroon, of Niger, of Benin Republic. No matter how long you protest, we are going to remove subsidy,” he emphatically stated.
On Security, he said, “first, the primary responsibility of government is to protect the lives, properties, and prosperity of its citizens. As Governor of Lagos, fixing the difficult security situation I inherited was the first item on my list.
“Only after we secured the state and changed its reputation for the better, could we embark on the economic reforms that have ultimately produced the vibrant and active megacity of today.
“I am committed to securing Nigerians from violence and the fear of such violence. Terror, kidnapping, and banditry have no place in the society I envision. Upon entering office, we will move to implement several measures:
“We will increase the numbers of our military and non-military security forces. Specialist anti-terrorist battalions with integrated special forces units shall also be established.
“Our Critical National Infrastructure Protection Plan will deploy aerial and ground surveillance technology to surveil the most dangerous areas and secure our country’s vital national infrastructure and installations.
“We shall acquire and upgrade the tactical communications and mobility of our troops and security personnel. We must also devote greater attention to the care and welfare of our military and security forces who put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe.
“In sum, our objective is to be able to outmaneuver, outwit and outflank the terrorists and criminal groups. They want to defeat our democratic and good society. We shall defeat their evil one. We did it in Lagos with the RRS scheme. We can do it again for Nigeria. As we fight insecurity, we must deal with our economy at the same time. We know that business and insecurity cannot thrive side by side,” he noted.
Source: Daily Post
