Niger government has appealed to women in the state to be calm and patient as it is doing everything possible to alleviate the current hardship and rising cost of living.

Hauwa Bako, special adviser to Gov. Umaru Bago on social investment programme, made the appeal at a consolidated stakeholders’ engagement with Kpagungu community in Minna.

She explained that the meeting was to interact with women, know their challenges and come up with measures on how to address them.

Ms Bako said that Mr Bago’s administration was concerned about the plight of citizens amidst the high cost of commodities.

She said the state government would do everything possible to support them with a view to improving the livelihood of households.

Responding, Aisha Jibrin and Fatima Aliyu, who led the protest on Feb. 5 over the current economic hardship being faced in the country, said the protest was not intended to cause crisis.

Ms Aliyu said the protest was to express their plight and predicament before the government to find a lasting solution to the current economic hardship.

She commended the ongoing efforts by the state and federal governments to crack down on those hoarding food items, which had resulted in a slash in prices of grains across local markets in the state.

(NAN)