A coalition of young Nigerians under the banner of the Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOTION) has taken to the streets of Yola to protest worsening hunger, poverty, and what they describe as growing social and institutional injustice in the country.
The peaceful demonstration, held on Friday, saw scores of youths marching with placards and kitchen utensils—symbolizing the emptiness of their pots and the hunger biting across households. They called on the federal government to take urgent steps to ease economic hardship, tackle insecurity, and create opportunities for young people.
State Focal Pesrson of MOTION, Mr. Musa Andrew, said the protest was a wake-up call for leaders to confront the realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
“We are here to speak out against hardship and social injustice. Nigerians are hungry; families go to bed without food, and children go to school on empty stomachs. We are tired of insecurity in the North-East, North-West, and across the country—too many of our young men, soldiers, and policemen are dying daily,” Andrew lamented.
He urged the government to adopt proactive measures to secure lives, reduce poverty, and ensure fair distribution of the nation’s wealth. Andrew also decried corruption in the pension system and the neglect of retirees, stressing that transparency and accountability must be restored in public service.
Speaking further, he demanded greater youth participation in decision-making, noting that the much-publicized 30 per cent inclusion for women and youths in governance had not been realized.
“Most of our current leaders started leading in their 20s, yet they refuse to give the younger generation a chance. Leadership is not inheritance—it’s responsibility,” he said.
Another protester, Mrs. Blessing Musa, a mother of three, spoke emotionally about the soaring cost of living, saying hunger and inflation were driving many families into despair.
“Hunger is killing us. Food prices may appear to be going down, but there’s no money in circulation. A man begged me to buy rice at ₦1,400 per measure, and I couldn’t afford it. Over 80 per cent of Nigerians are living in poverty,” she said.
Mrs. Musa called on the government to strengthen public education and introduce policies that will enable citizens to meet their basic needs.
Also speaking, Mr. Dennis Babangida, a youth leader, described the hunger situation in northern Nigeria as alarming and urged authorities to support agriculture and rural employment.
“Fertilizer prices are beyond reach for ordinary farmers. If the government can subsidize farm inputs and empower youths, it will reduce hunger and joblessness,” Babangida said.
The protesters maintained that their action was not politically motivated but a call for leadership that listens, includes, and responds to the needs of its people.
They vowed to continue their advocacy through peaceful means until the federal government addresses what they termed the “silent emergency of hunger and exclusion” facing millions of Nigerians.
