Economic Hardship: Nigerians Begin Street Protests Ignoring Police Warnings — Reports [WATCH]

In an effort to voice their opposition to the high cost of food and the dire economic conditions facing the nation, hundreds of demonstrators on Monday occupied several major thoroughfares in Lagos.

This demonstration precedes the two-day demonstrations that organized labor has scheduled to start on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

A human rights organization known as the “Take It Back Movement” reportedly staged a protest in Lagos State on Monday against the country's exorbitant cost of living and food prices, according to reports.

According to the reports, the protests are taking place in defiance of the warning that Lagos State Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade issued on Sunday.

The demonstrators are voicing their complaints about the nation's current economic suffering by carrying placards with various inscriptions on them.

Juwon Sanyaolu, one of the protests' national coordinators, claimed that the demonstration showed the people's determination to resist oppressive trends and hardship.

“Yes, despite police attempts to frustrate the people, Lagosians stood their ground. The police are paid by taxpayers' money, they are meant to secure us.

“We were able to match from Yaba Labour House to Maryland. The protest will continue tomorrow and updates will be given. We will join NLC in their nationwide mass action to put an end to this hardship created by the ruling elite,” Sanyaolu added.

Furthermore, there have been reports of protests on Monday in a few other Nigerian states.

Reports state that on Monday, protesters against Nigeria's economic woes marched through the streets of Edo and Osun states, organized by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

The CSOs stormed the streets of Osogbo, the capital of Osun state, and Benin City, the capital of Edo state, to voice their complaints about the economic hardship caused by these.

Benin's demonstrators claim that members of the Edo civil society organization are participating in a nonviolent demonstration in an effort to put an end to the nation's pain and hunger.

To emphasize their points, the demonstrators in Benin City marched from Kings Square to Akpakpava Road holding signs that read, among other things, “FG End the Hunger in Nigeria Now” and “End Economic Hardship.”

Also, the demonstrators in Osogbo urged the federal government to “End the High of Living” as they gathered at Nelson Mandela Park in the nation's capital.

Meanwhile, Kwara, Oyo, Niger, Osun, Sokoto, Kano, Kogi, and Benue states have all been the scene of documented protests against food prices that have skyrocketed and insecurity during the past two weeks.

The Organised Labour has announced a two-day nationwide protest in response to the hardship and escalating insecurity in the nation, in addition to the protests taking place in these Nigerian states.

On February 8, 2024, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government, warning that failure to comply with their demands would result in industrial action.

The NLC officials say that organized labor will stage a two-day nationwide protest in response to the suffering that Nigerians are going through and the worsening security conditions in the nation.

Following an emergency meeting of the union's National Executive Council (NEC), NLC President Joe Ajaero spoke at a press conference in Abuja. February 27 and 28 are the scheduled days for the nationwide protest, according to him. The protest would start one week after the federal government's 14-day ultimatum expired on February 23.

“To this end, NEC unanimously noted its deep disappointment and condemned the actions of the federal government in refusing to implement the agreements and reached the following decisions: That it reaffirms the 14 days notice issued the federal government within which to implement the agreement and addres the mounting crisis of survival in Nigeria.

“That the Notice expires on the Midnight of Thursday, the 22nd of February, 2024. If on expiration, Congress is not satisfied with the level of government's compliance with the conditions of the notice, it will be at liberty to take action that will compel government to implement the agreement.

“Declares a 2-day National Protest on 27th and 28th of February to demonstrate outrage on the mounting hardship and insecurity around the nation.

“If demands are not met after the nationwide protests to issue a Seven- Day notice that will expire on the 2nd day of March, 2024 to the federal government after which an indefinite nationwide strike will ensue.

“That Nigerian workers and people are not interested in empty talk now but action so, calls on all of affiliates, state Councils and Civil Society Allies to start mobilizing across the nation for effective action as the deadline approaches,” Ajaero said.

Watch Clips of The Protests below

Edo civil society organization members are out on a peaceful protest, seeking an end to the suffering and hunger in Nigeria.

#EndHunger Protest holds in Lagos. Some residents of Lagos have protested increasing hunger in the Ojuelebba Under bridge area of the State.

Protest against the high cost of living in Benin City, Edo State

🎥Credit: AIT