The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has urged the federal government to stem the tide of high cost of living and release those arrested for protesting against the situation.
The high price of goods and services across the country has prompted protests in four states with some of the protesters picked up by the police for alleged breach of peace charge.
Sultan weighed in on the matter in his capacity as the spiritual leader of the Nigerian Muslims under the aegis of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam.
In the statement, he warned President Bola Tinubu against treating the economic hardship with levity, adding that continuous detention of the said protester would have unfavourable consequences.
The statement issued by its Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu titled, “The need to address the inflation crisis in Nigeria,” read in part, “The current trying-time ordinary Nigerians are experiencing, occasioned by food insecurity, inflation, abject poverty and insecurity is distressing and calls for serious redress.
“The JNI under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, with all sense of responsibility calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently intervene over the difficulties Nigerians are passing through.
“This call is made over the excruciating pains citizens are airing in both print and electronic media, inclusive of social media, where in Minna, Niger State and Lokoja, Kogi State protests and other dissenting concerns were being raised.
“In the light of the troubling impact of hoarding and inflation on the availability and affordability of essential goods and services, particularly food items, the JNI is, therefore, compelled to raise its voice on the matter.
“We have been inundated with reports and pleas from ordinary Nigerians, expressing their anguish over the soaring prices of necessities.”
It added, “We urgently call on the FGN and state governments to intervene before the situation worsens. Likewise, all those arrested during the protests should be released and future recurrence be avoided through synergy and prompt interventions. This call has become necessary such that citizens would not be further provoked.’’