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Africa Live this week: 19-25 February 2024 - BBC News Africa Live this week: 19-25 February 2024 - BBC News
(about 1 hour later)
Mansur Abubakar
BBC News, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) trade union umbrella on Tuesday morning began its two-day protest against "hunger and insecurity" across the country. South Africa has announced that 499 rhinos were illegally killed
The protest first kicked off in Nigeria’s commercial nerve of Lagos around 09:00 local time (08:00GMT) before other locations followed moments later. last year, marking a significant increase from the 448 rhinos poached in the previous
In a letter shared to the public before the protest started, the NLC said they want an end to hunger and insecurity in Nigeria. year.
“Open all food storage silos and ensure equitable distribution across the country,” one of the demands read. Most of the rhinos - 406 of them - were killed on state properties and 93 in private parks, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said in a statement on Tuesday.
They also called on the government to abandon World Bank and International Monetary Fund policies which they believe are adding to hardship in Nigeria. One park in particular is taking the brunt, said Minister Barnara Creecy:
Before the protest, Nigeria's Finance Minister Wale Edun told the BBC's Newsday programme that President Bola Tinubu is "listening very carefully and acting in order to meet the needs of Nigerians". The pressure again has been felt in the KwaZulu-Natal province with Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park facing the brunt of poaching cases - losing 307 of the total national poaching loss."
On Monday, the minister announced the resumption of direct cash transfers to help over 12 million vulnerable households with the spike in living costs. She said teams were continuing "to work tirelessly in an attempt to slow this relentless pressure".
During his interview with BBC Newsday, Mr Edun asked Nigerians for patience as the government implements economic reforms. South Africa hosts the highest number of the endangered animals in the world and is among the countries hardest hit by poaching.
"He [President Tinubu] is putting the country on the path to economic restoration and he is asking for patience and asks for forbearance at this particular time and is doing everything he can to assuage these pains and shorten the period for which they last," Mr Edun told Newsday. Poachers hunt animals like rhinos to sell their horns - as there is great demand for the horn in countries in Asia.
Listen to BBC Newsday's interview with Nigeria's finance minister:
Finance Minister vows to help Nigerians during crisis
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