SAHARA REPORTERS
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed concerns about the youth unrest due to unemployment, warning that Nigeria might be “sitting on a keg of gunpowder” while advising the President Bola Tinubu-led government to create more opportunities.
Since August 1, Nigerians have stormed the streets in #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests across several states and have continued to express their grievances despite arrests and clampdown by the police and other security agencies.
“Our youth are restive. And they are restive because they have no skill. They have no empowerment. They have no employment.
We are all sitting on a keg of gunpowder. And my prayer is that we will do the right thing before it’s too late,” he warned. Obasanjo added that those profiting from fuel importation would likely attempt to hinder the progress of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery based in Lagos.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Obasanjo described the Dangote refinery as a project that should inspire both Nigerians and foreigners to invest in Nigeria.
Obasanjo’s remarks followed allegations by Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, who claimed that certain “mafias” are working to obstruct the $20 billion refinery.
He described the country’s reliance on crude oil as a “deadly mistake”.
“I believe we made a deadly mistake by putting all our eggs in one basket by relying on oil. We had a very important commodity, gas, but we were flaring it,” he said.
THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SAHARA REPORTERS
