Hours after protests erupted in some states across the nation, a closed-door meeting is currently taking place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting, which began at about 05:30 pm, is attended by the President’s Chief of Staff, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, as well as the Ministers of Education, Dr Tahir Mamman; Finance, Wale Edun; Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari and the State for Agriculture, Mustapha Shehuri.

This gathering comes in the wake of angry youths and women taking to the streets of Minna and Kano to protest the rising cost of living in the country. In Niger, a group of women reportedly blocked the Minna-Bida Road at the popular Kpakungu Roundabout, calling on the administration to address the problem of hunger in the land.

Security operatives deployed tear gas cannisters to quell the protest and made some arrests, but their attempts were rebuffed by the mob.

Details later…