In Ogun State, Nigerian youths have made a heartfelt plea to President Bola Tinubu to urgently open the country’s land borders for rice importation. Their appeal aims to prevent potential nationwide protests in the country.

During a press conference held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Coalition of Ogun State Youths Forum expressed their concerns. The group emphasized that allowing rice imports would result in a significant reduction in food prices across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the group, spokesperson Femi Owoeye highlighted the dire economic situation, the high cost of living, and the skyrocketing food prices that have contributed to the hardships faced by Nigerians. Owoeye, accompanied by Comrade Sodeinde Daniel, the state coordinator of the coalition, Kazeem Baiyewu, the general secretary, and Habeeb Whyte, the legal adviser of the coalition, commended the president’s resilience in governing the country during such challenging times. However, they also urged the government to take stronger action.

For the time being, the youths have called on Nigerians to postpone any planned street protests until the government responds to their request to open the land borders for rice imports. The forum has given the federal government a two-week deadline to address their concerns, warning that failure to do so will result in protests by Nigerian youths.

The coalition identified hunger as a critical challenge in the country, stressing that Nigeria currently lacks the capacity to feed its citizens and must seek help from neighbouring countries. They emphasized the need for an agricultural revolution as a way to alleviate the economic hardship and food shortages. The government was urged to make genuine commitments to invest in sustainable agriculture, while also lifting the ban on rice imports to meet the immediate food demands of the population.

The coalition expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the policy aimed at protecting local industries, questioning the availability of locally produced rice in the market. They believe that if local rice is made accessible, people will willingly purchase it. Urgent action is needed to address the hunger crisis, and the coalition hopes that the government will consider their demands within a month. Failure to do so may result in the coalition, comprising at least 30 youth groups, taking to the streets to advocate for their cause.