APA – Lagos (Nigeria) Hundreds of protesters on Monday took over some major streets in Lagos to protest high food prices and the harsh economic condition in the country.
This protest is coming ahead of the two-day protests announced by the organized Labour to commence on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.
According to reports by Punch newspaper on Monday, a human rights group identified as the “Take It Back Movement” on Monday hit the streets of Lagos State to protest against the soaring price of food and the high cost of living in the country.
The reports added that the protests are being held against the warning issued by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, on Sunday.
The protesters are carrying placards of various inscriptions to make their grievances known on the current economic hardship across the country.
One of the National Coordinators of the protests, Juwon Sanyaolu, said that the protest was a demonstration of the people’s will against oppressive tendencies 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.
There are also reports of protests in some other states of the Nigeria on Monday.
According to the reports, members of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Monday poured into the streets in Edo and Osun states over the economic hardship in Nigeria.
To register their grievances over the economic hardship induced by these, The CSOs stormed the streets in Benin City the Edo state capital and Osogbo, the capital city of Osun state.
According to the protesters in Benin, the Edo civil society organization members are out on a peaceful protest, seeking an end to the suffering and hunger in the country.
The protesters in Benin City marched from Kings Square to Akpakpava Road and carried placards with diverse inscriptions such as “End Economic Hardship” and “FG End the Hunger in Nigeria Now,” to drum home their points.
And in Osogbo, the protesters, who converged at Nelson Mandela Park in the capital city, called on the Federal Government to “End the High of Living”.
Meanwhile, in the last two weeks, there were reported cases of protests against high prices of foods and insecurity in Kwara, Oyo, Niger, Osun, Sokoto, Kano, Kogi and Benue states.
In addition to these protests in these Nigerian states, the Organised Labour has announced a two-day nationwide protests over the hardship and worsening insecurity in the country.
The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, had on February 8, 2024 gave a two-week ultimatum to the federal government to meet the demands of the organized labour or face industrial action.
According to the officials of the NLC, the organized Labour will hold a two-day nationwide protest over the hardship being experienced by Nigerians as well as the deteriorating security situation in the country.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, told a news conference in Abuja after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union.
He said that the protest would begin a week after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it issued to the federal government, which expired on February 23 and the planned days for the nationwide protest are February 27 and 28.
“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 address 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.
GIK/APA