In Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, angry youths have destroyed billboards welcoming President Bola Tinubu for the launch of the Yobe Agricultural Empowerment Programme.
The incident occurred on Saturday, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Tinubu at the event.
The programme, central to President Tinubu’s administration, aims to enhance food security, create jobs, and diversify Nigeria’s economy through agriculture. Highlighting the significance of agriculture, the president’s representative emphasized that “food is the heart of security in every society,” underlining its role in national development and security.
“It is the foundation upon which we build our health, our well-being, and our economic stability. There’s no way we are going to achieve our grand goals as a government, whether at the state or national level, until we support and empower our farmers,” he added.
Despite the programme’s positive intentions, a viral video clip of 1 minute and 5 seconds shows youths climbing one of the billboards displaying photos of President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and Governor Mai Buni. The billboard bore the message, “Thank you Mr President. Have a safe trip,” which the youths vandalized and tore down.
Reports from Daily Trust indicate that states across the federation are on edge due to an ongoing plan by some anonymous Nigerian youths to initiate a 10-day nationwide protest against hunger and hardship. The protest aims to draw attention to the worsening conditions faced by citizens.
The rally organizers stated, “this hunger is too much,” highlighting the severe distress among the populace.
On Thursday, the federal government acknowledged awareness of the planned hunger rally, noting that the “identities of many of the brains behind the protest are known, along with their collaborators who are safely residing abroad.” The government is taking necessary measures to prevent these subversive activities.
Lanre Issa Onilu, director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), confirmed in a statement that the agency’s nationwide structure had identified the sponsors of the proposed protest and potential hotspots for unrest.
