The recent protests against poverty and bad governance that erupted today in Nigeria, both in the federal capital, Abuja, and in the city of Lagos, are a powerful underscore of the economic hardships that many Nigerians are enduring. The mobilization, dubbed #FearlessInOctober, echoes the previous #EndBadGovernance protests that took place last August and were sparked by the economic hardships that many Nigerians are facing.
As Nigeria celebrated its 64th independence anniversary, hundreds of citizens took to the streets of Abuja in a protest dubbed #FearlessInOctober, demanding an end to bad governance. Protesters gathered at Utako Market, holding placards with messages such as “Bad governance has killed the dreams of Nigerian youth” and “Enough is enough,” among others.
“We buy petrol for 1,000 naira, and you expect us not to protest? We are hungry,” one of the protesters said.
In Lagos, hundreds of protesters gathered at Ikeja Bridge on Tuesday morning. By 7:35 a.m., there was a heavy police presence. The protesters, holding placards, expressed frustration at worsening living conditions.
One protester, Tunde Aderibigbe, said: “Nigerians are hungry, there are no jobs, people are homeless, health care is poor. It is so bad that basic things are now considered luxuries.” Aderibigbe and others called for better living conditions and immediate reforms.
The protests come after President Bola Tinubu’s National Independence Day address, in which he assured citizens of better days ahead and promised economic reforms to alleviate the challenges faced by Nigerians.
The ongoing protests reflect an urgent need for change and reforms to improve the lives of Nigerians and ensure a better future for all. It is critical that the country’s leaders listen to the voices of the people and act decisively to address the needs and concerns of the people.