Buhari meets with the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal; the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Atiku Bagudu, Emefiele and others over Naira/Fuel scarcity, as protests break in Abeokuta, Benin-Ore Highway.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Amidst protests in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital and a section of Benin-Ore Expressway, over the Naira and fuel scarcity, the President, Muhammadu Buhari has met privately with the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal; and the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Atiku Bagudu in Abuja.
Also in attendance at the meeting was the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele; the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa; as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor.
According to Channels Television, the meeting held at the President’s office at the State House, Abuja.
The meeting originally scheduled with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum was cancelled, for reasons not clearly stated.
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The presence of the CBN governor, however, gave indications that the meeting was organised ostensibly to discuss the cash swap policy which has for days elicited public outcry, particularly from the governors.
It would be recalled that the President had on February 3 met with the Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some of the governors had asked that the President intervene to allow both the old and new notes co-circulate to ease cash crunch recorded across the country.
The President was said to have cancelled it in view of the court order forbidding government from extending the February 10, 2023 deadline for the swapping of three old naira notes.
Sources within the Presidency also affirmed that the President was wary about the possible perception of disregard for lawful orders.
The confusion persists as the World Bank Country Office in Nigeria has raised alarm that the lingering fuel scarcity and the inability of Nigerians to access the new naira notes may pose threats to the February 25 and March 10 elections in the country. In similar vein, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has also warned that the fuel scarcity may affect logistics for the polls.
The World Bank issued the alert in a document posted on its website. The document said, “The shortage of cash compounds fuel shortages, which have been ongoing for months. There is a clear risk that cash shortages cause hardship and frustration, which could escalate social tensions, especially in a febrile political environment ahead of elections on February 25 (presidential and parliamentary) and March 11 (gubernatorial).
Protest broke out in Abeokuta, when residents poured into the roads and streets over biting cash and fuel scarcity. Sources say the Sapon branch of First Bank was also vandalised as the protesters attempted to set it ablaze.
Elsewhere, youths in Ore, Odigbo council area of Ondo state have staged a peaceful protest along Benin-Ore-Lagos highway, over the same reasons.