Nigerian Protests Erupt Over Rising Cost of Living Amid Economic Struggles
Nigerian police deployed tear gas to disperse protesters in Abuja and Kano on Thursday, as thousands of demonstrators across the country participated in rallies against the rising cost of living.
As Africa’s most populous nation grapples with high inflation and a significantly weakened naira, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to end a costly fuel subsidy and deregulate the currency over a year ago has intensified economic hardships.
The protest movement, under the hashtag #EndbadGovernanceinNigeria, gained traction through an online campaign.
However, officials cautioned against mirroring recent violent protests in Kenya, where demonstrators forced the government to reverse new taxes.
Many Nigerians face severe economic challenges, with food inflation at 40 percent and fuel prices tripling compared to a year ago.
Additionally, concerns about protest-related insecurity have made some people hesitant to join the demonstrations.
In Kano, the country’s second-largest city, protesters set fire to tires outside the state governor’s office, prompting a tear gas response from the police, which pushed most demonstrators away, according to an AFP correspondent.
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Jite Omoze, a 38-year-old factory worker, expressed his frustration, saying, “We are hungry — even the police are hungry, the army is hungry.” He urged the government to lower fuel prices, citing his inability to support his family.
Protesters later attacked and looted a digital center of the Nigeria Communications Commission near the governor’s office, leading police to fire shots into the air to disperse the crowd. The police reported incidents of looting and arson, resulting in 13 arrests.
In Abuja, security forces barricaded roads to Eagle Square, a planned protest location, deploying tear gas and barbed wire to prevent several hundred protesters from accessing the park.
Tear gas was also used to disperse crowds in Mararaba on the capital’s outskirts, according to an AFP reporter.
Around 1,000 people participated in a peaceful march in Lagos, the economic capital, where they chanted “Tinubu Ole,” meaning “thief” in Yoruba. Local media reported additional protests in Maiduguri, Bauchi State, and several other regions.
“Hunger has driven me to protest,” said 24-year-old Asamau Peace Adams outside the National Stadium in Abuja before tear gas was used. She attributed her actions to poor governance.
Ahead of the protests, Tinubu’s officials advised young activists to avoid rallies and allow time for economic reforms to take effect.
Nonetheless, protest leaders, representing a coalition of civil society groups, pledged to continue despite legal challenges aimed at restricting them to public parks and stadiums.
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The government has announced aid measures to mitigate economic hardships, including raising minimum wage levels, distributing grains to states, and providing support to the most vulnerable.
Secretary to the Federation of Government George Akume emphasized the government’s commitment to respecting the right to peaceful protest while urging caution and vigilance.
The last major protest in Nigeria occurred in 2020, when activists rallied against the SARS anti-robbery squad’s brutality, leading to some of the largest demonstrations in the country’s modern history.
These protests ended in violence, with rights groups accusing the army of firing on peaceful protesters, though the military claimed it used blanks to disperse a curfew-defying crowd. Amnesty International reported at least 10 deaths.
Nigeria’s current protests follow a similar pattern seen in Kenya, where President William Ruto was compelled to repeal new taxes and form a new cabinet after weeks of anti-government demonstrations.
Uganda also experienced arrests of anti-corruption protesters earlier this month, inspired by the rallies in Kenya.
Nigerian Protests Erupt Over Rising Cost of Living Amid Economic Struggles
