The echo of a peaceful protest to denounce the ongoing economic difficulties in Nigeria resonated recently in the city. Announced under the name “End of Trouble Nigeria”, the demonstration was initially scheduled to take place at the busy Mokola roundabout, in the heart of the city.
When the time of the rally, set for 8 a.m., arrived, only a small group of demonstrators were present at the scene, under the coordination of a few notable activists. Subsequently, the protesters headed towards the Sango-UI road, gathering around 100 people.
Although security agencies, such as the Nigeria Police Force and Amotekun personnel, were present, this did not stop the protesters from raising their voices peacefully.
One activist, Solomon Emiola, highlighted the lack of adequate communication as the main barrier to greater participation, attributing the problem to frequent power outages and rising fuel prices. He said the protest was aimed at signaling to the government that Nigerians could no longer bear the current economic hardship.
He condemned what he said was a decision by the government to follow the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which resulted in the depreciation of the naira.
In a context where citizens feel left behind, it is essential to remember that each government has the primary duty to provide essential services to its citizens. Nigerians, under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, are entitled to hold their leaders to account if these obligations are not fulfilled.
It is time for voices to be raised to defend the rights and needs of citizens in the face of economic policies and decisions that seem to neglect them.