A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has opined that the recent looting incident at a government warehouse in Abuja is as a direct manifestation of the widespread hardships that afflict a significant portion of the Nigerian population.
Adegboruwa says that the latest act of looting, among Abuja residents, served as a symbolic means to communicate dissatisfaction with the economic policies championed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast show, The Morning Brief, on Monday, the human rights lawyer delved into the socio-economic implications behind the looting. He underscored the urgency for President Tinubu and his economic team to undertake a comprehensive review of existing policies.
According to Adegboruwa, this revision is imperative to rejuvenate the economic landscape and, in turn, address the pressing needs and survival concerns of the majority of Nigerians.
He said, “Across all states in Nigeria presently there is a crisis of survival from the part of the people. So, it is not just this particular occurrence, a truck bearing foodstuff was randomly attacked and looted. I do not support this in any way at all because we must have an environment where we can secure lives and property.
“But it is a reflection of the fact that the economic policies of the present administration are not helping the people of the country and of course, these occurrences showcase the frustration that people are going through.”
“You know what they say that we pray that we don’t get to a position where the poor will rise up to be eating the rich. I think there is a message to the president and members of his economic team that there is a need to rejig the system in such a way that will allow for the survival of the majority of our people.”
President Tinubu had removed the petrol subsidy immediately he assumed the office in May.
Speaking on this, Adegboruwa said:
“Effect of the fuel subsidy removal has imposed hardship on the people in terms of moving from one end to the other. And of course, factories are closing down, there is high unemployment, cost of living is very high whilst the earning capacity remains the same or even lower.”
