Every day of the week, Nigerian youths wonder when the prices of commodities will stop heading north.
As of March 6, 2024, a bag of rice is above ₦80,000.00, with a derica costing a minimum of ₦1,500.00.
Unfortunately, the salaries of most workers have not been considered for increment.
The youths, the largest population of the nation are feeling the heat, but everywhere has been calm.
A few days ago, President Bola Tinubu said he took responsibility of the hardship.
Well, everyone agreed because he was the one that took off the petrol subsidy on the day of his inauguration in Mar 2023. That singular ‘Subsidy Is Gone’ statement has swept everyone into an unforeseen inflation.
Rising Cost Of Living
Indeed, it is an inflation rate that has pushed the minimum earning of people off the cliff on a consistent fall. One will easily say that the pit appears to be deeper than assumed.
Amidst this hardship, a few days ago, the President visited Qatar to seek investments.
Most importantly, in one of his meetings with the leadership of Qatar, President Tinubu made some profound statements about Nigerian youths.
A few years ago, one of Nigeria’s past leaders had at one of such trips described young Nigerians are lazy youths.
But the statement of President Tinubu appears to carry in it so much hope and faith in the Nigerian youth.
You see, the End SARS Protest is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians and the major players were Nigerian youths.
Every Nigerian leader who gives a thought to that protest and its magnitude will understand the power the young Nigerians have.
As the hardship bits harder, the young ones may no longer bear it. Only God knows what would happen when that time, which is imminent, comes.
Except the government does something that will stop the rising cost and force it way down to what the earnings of the people can accommodate, the heat is building up.
It is for this reason that the IMF had advised the government to quickly solve the food insecurity problem.
Enough Energy And Talent
Meanwhile, at the meeting between President Tinubu and His Highness, Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Nigerian leader made some important statements.
He told him: “Our greatest strength is our people. Our strength lies in the capacity of Nigerian youths.
“They have energy, talent, and self-belief.
“They are quality partners for Qatari industry, they are educated and reliable, and they are proactively seeking to add value wherever they are”.
Also Read: 7 Importance Of President Tinubu’s Trip To Qatar
Amidst the talks, the President walked on the road of image making for the young people of his nation.
He emphasised that “a few cannot give a bad name to the many.
“Nigerian youths are ready to be unleashed for the mutual benefit of both nations”.