AS Nigeria marks 64 years of independence from British colonial rule today, thousands of citizens gathered in the nation’s economic and political hubs, Lagos and Abuja, to protest rising living and energy costs in Africa’s most populous country.
For many, it was not a day of celebration.
Instead, they called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address the escalating inflation and severe economic challenges facing the country.
The October 1, 2024, protest, titled “FearlessInOctober,” was widely promoted on social media, just two months after the August #EndBadGovernance demonstrations. Both protests shared similar themes, with young Nigerians demanding the reversal of petrol subsidy removal and increased electricity tariffs.
In Abuja’s Utako area, protesters waved the Nigerian Green-White-Green flag and held banners with slogans such as “EndBadGovernance,” “DiasporaVoting,” and “EndHighLivingCosts.”
A similar scene unfolded in Lagos, where demonstrators blocked traffic at the Ikeja UnderBridge, bringing vehicular movement to a halt during a public holiday declared for the independence celebration.
Protesters in Lagos carried large banners with messages like “Hunger Dey” and “Reverse Anti-People Neoliberal Policies of Privatization, Deregulation, and Naira Devaluation.”
Activist Omoyele Sowore was spotted at the Lagos rally, where he and other demonstrators prepared to march to the iconic Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota to continue their protest against what they described as anti-government policies.
Security forces were visible in both Lagos and Abuja, maintaining a distance from the demonstrators.
Despite warnings and attempts to discourage the protests, similar demonstrations occurred across several Nigerian states.
Critics have condemned Tinubu’s policies of petrol subsidy removal and the unification of exchange rates, which they argue have led to unprecedented inflation and skyrocketing living and energy costs.
Since Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, energy costs have tripled, with petrol prices soaring from N200 to over N1,000 per litre, and electricity tariffs quadrupling, severely affecting both manufacturers and households.
In his Independence Day address, Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain patient, explaining that his administration is working to reform the economy for the benefit of ordinary citizens.
He acknowledged the hardships caused by his policies and assured that efforts were underway to lower the high cost of living.