PRESS RELEASE 


14th October, 2024


A NATION ON THE BRINK: URGENT CALL TO PRESIDENT TINUBU FOR ECONOMIC INTERVENTION, ENDING NIGERIA'S HUNGER PANDEMIC, UNEMPLOYMENT, FOOD AND FUEL CRISES


Dear Mr. President, 


Your Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Society for the Welfare of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria (SWUYN) urgently calls on your administration to address the escalating costs of foodstuffs, fuel, and unemployment of youths in Nigeria. The current economic situation is dire, with food insecurity and malnutrition rates at alarming levels, across the nation. 


We are writing to express the unbearable pains and hunger that millions of Nigerians are currently enduring. The escalating costs of foodstuffs, fuel hikes, and unemployment have pushed our citizens to the brink of desperation.


Mothers are struggling to feed their children, watching them go to bed with empty stomachs. Fathers are helpless, unable to provide for their families. The elderly are forced to beg, their dignity lost.


Mr. President sir, youthful dreams are shattered, as graduates roam the streets, searching for non-existent jobs. Skills are wasted, potential untapped. The future looks bleak.


Mr. President, transportation costs have skyrocketed, making commuting a luxury. Businesses suffer, as owners struggle to maintain operations. The most vulnerable – widows, orphans, and the disabled – suffer silently. Their voices unheard, their needs unmet.


Nigeria, once a land of promise, now teeters on the edge of despair. Hope is fading, and frustration mounts.


If urgent action is not taken, crime rates will soar, social unrest will escalate and future leaders will be lost to despair.


We implore Mr. President and the Federal Government to:


1. Provide urgent food assistance to vulnerable populations.

2. Implement sustainable agricultural programmes.

3. Create job opportunities and support entrepreneurship.

4. Address the fuel crisis.


We beg of you, leaders, to hear our cries, to see our struggles, and to act decisively.


The Time for Action is Now.


Nigerians are crying out for relief. We cannot afford to wait.


*Key Areas of Concern:*


- _Food Insecurity_: The prices of staple foods like beans and maize have increased by 300 to 400 percent over the past year, making essential food items unaffordable for many Nigerians especially the common man.


- _Unemployment_: The lack of job opportunities is exacerbating the economic challenges faced by Nigerian youths.


- _Fuel Prices_: The removal of the fuel subsidy has led to increased fuel prices, further worsening the economic hardship.


*Recommended Interventions:*


- *Emergency Food Assistance*: Provide urgent food assistance, nutrition supplies, and services to vulnerable populations, particularly in the local communities.


- *Agricultural Support*: Implement initiatives to support agricultural livelihoods, including seeds, fertilizer, livestock, and technical training.


- *Economic Empowerment*: Launch programmes to promote entrepreneurship, skills development, and job creation for unemployed youths.


- *Fuel Subsidy Reinstatement*: Consider reinstating the fuel subsidy or implementing alternative measures to mitigate the impact of high fuel prices on Nigerians.


We appreciate the government's efforts to address these challenges, including the proposed Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP) aimed at reviving the economy, the proposed National Youth Conference (30-day confab) and Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), an initiative whose goal is to create 2.5 million jobs annually, while ensuring workers' welfare and safety. However, we urge your administration to prioritize the needs of vulnerable populations and take immediate action to alleviate their suffering.


Thank you Mr. President. 


God bless Nigeria.


Comr. Preye V. Tambou 

National President, 

Society for the Welfare of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria (SWUYN)

swuynnigeria@gmail.com 

08133040633