Thousands of Nigerians took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the high cost of living under the country’s new president, demanding the government to take immediate action to alleviate their hardship. The demonstrations, organized by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the umbrella body of the unions, took place in major cities across the nation, including Lagos and the capital, Abuja.
Leading the protest, Joe Ajaero, the president of the NLC, criticized Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of being slow to respond to the impact of his policies on ordinary citizens. Ajaero specifically denounced the suspension of longstanding subsidies, which has resulted in a sharp increase in fuel prices, and subsequently led to a rise in the costs of essential commodities, such as food.
“The option of continuing this protest for a longer period is open to us. It depends on the approach of the Nigerian state that will determine the level that we will do this action today,” Ajaero warned.
Among the protesters were government workers, who expressed their frustration over the lack of sufficient economic incentives announced by President Tinubu to combat the growing economic challenges. They stressed the urgent need for social welfare interventions to reduce the burden on the Nigerian population.
Usman Abdullahi Shagari, a health ministry worker, highlighted the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies on daily life. “The removal of the fuel subsidy has increased the cost of almost everything in the country so far, especially transportation,” Shagari said. “Everyone is complaining, whether it’s about commuting to work or buying groceries in the market.”
The rallies in Abuja drew significant attention, with hundreds of protesters marching down the main roads, closely monitored by the police. Chanting and singing against the subsidy cuts, they demanded immediate government action to lower the cost of petrol, which has disproportionately affected the nation’s oil-rich population.
President Tinubu’s administration, however, argued that the subsidy cuts were necessary to reduce government spending and redirect resources towards infrastructure development and social programs. The administration maintains that the subsidies were an inefficient use of public funds and that the long-term benefits would offset the current hardship.
Despite these claims, the NLC and the protesting unions continue to demand more comprehensive measures to address the rising cost of living. They stressed the immediate need for President Tinubu’s government to provide further economic incentives and social interventions to protect vulnerable communities from further hardship.
The Nigerian government now faces the difficult task of balancing the need for economic reforms with the growing dissatisfaction and protests taking place nationwide. As the demonstrations continue, the government will likely face increasing pressure to address the concerns of the unions and take decisive action to alleviate the burden on ordinary Nigerians affected by the soaring cost of living.
