Niger, Abuja begins nationwide protest ahead of Schedule

Residents of Niger State have begun expressing their frustrations over rising costs of living and inflation in Nigeria, FIJ reports.

On Monday morning, some residents took to the streets with placards in protest, three days ahead of a planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1.

Protesters marched from Suleja LGA in Niger State, making their way to Abuja through the Abuja-Kaduna expressway. Their placards bore inscriptions such as “Hardship is unbearable,” “Enough is enough,” and “Fuel subsidies must be back.”

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Despite warnings and appeals from security agencies and government officials to cancel the protests, some Nigerians are determined to proceed.

The police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the military have issued statements cautioning against the demonstrations.

In Lagos and Abuja, several anti-protest groups demonstrated on Sunday and Monday morning, urging residents to “Say no to protest.” Despite these efforts, the planned August 1 protest, tagged #EndBadGovernance, is expected to go ahead with several groups marching across the country to demand improvements in governance and economic conditions.

The protesters’ demands include revising the retail price of petroleum, increasing the minimum wage to N70,000, providing free education, and ensuring better security.