The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern States and the FCT has on Friday 9 February, expressed worries over the current economic challenges ravaging the country, stating that the hardship in the country is becoming unbearable on the masses.
The religious group which equally registered their pain concerning the rising insecurity across the country, also called for an urgent solution to the harsh economic realities.
Recall that a similar concern was raised by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar lll-led Jama’atu Nasril Islam who urged both federal and state governments to intervene in the prevailing economic hardship which had forced citizens in some parts of the country to flood the streets in protests.
Earlier this week, precisely on Monday through Tuesday, aggrieved youths and women took to the streets of Minna, the Niger State capital, Kano and Ondo and to protest what they described as the rising cost of living across the country.
Meanwhile, in Minna the Niger state capital, a group of women reportedly barricaded the ever-busy Minna-Bida Road at the famous Kpakungu Roundabout mounting calls on the Tinubu-led government to put an end to the challenges of hunger faced by Nigerians.
It was gathered that the irate citizens resisted attempts to quell the protest by security operatives who fired tear gas canisters into the crowd in an attempt to dislodge them and arrested some of them.
It is even not unconnected to this that the Northern CAN, in a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Elder Sunday Oibe, in Kaduna and made available to journalists, called on the Federal Government to immediately rise up to the occasion in order to address the depressing economic and worsening insecurity in the land.
CAN stated that the suffering in the country is becoming unbearable for the masses as the high cost of foodstuffs, transportation, goods, and services have made life very hard for many Nigerians.
While calling on the government to do everything possible to stop the killings not only in the Plateau but across all parts of the country, the secretary also emphasized that the Christian body was sad over the incessant attacks on Plateau State, where no fewer than 300 lives were lost recently.
The statement noted further; “The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory wishes to express its deep concern over the prevailing economic hardship and the increasing security challenges across the country.
“The suffering in the country is becoming unbearable for ordinary Nigerians. The high cost of foodstuffs, transportation, goods, and services has made life difficult for many Nigerians.
“The epileptic power supply has led to the collapse of many small businesses.
“The continued decline in the value of the naira and the seeming inability of the government to address the situation has completely weakened the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.
“The situation is further compounded by escalating insecurity occasioned by rampant killings and kidnapping for ransom.
“Unless justice is done, by ensuring that the perpetrators and whoever are the sponsors are brought to book, all the talks about peace may be mere rhetoric.
“Government must take urgent steps to address the depressing economic and escalating security situation in the country.
“We called on governments at all levels to support our security agencies with all that is required to fight these criminals.
“We also called on Nigerians to cooperate with security personnel and pray for them as they confront these enemies of the nation”.
