Nigerian media reported that Nigerians took to the streets on Saturday for the tenth and final day of protests.
Thousands of people demonstrated out of frustration over the high cost of living; last Thursday, the protests escalated into violence.
What do we know about Saturday’s protests?
Hundreds of police and security forces were deployed in Nigeria’s major cities, the Rubber stamp The daily reported that police officers were spotted at major bus stops in Lagos, the country’s most populous city.
It said that while protests appeared to be dying down in parts of the country, “momentum continued” in the northern states of Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi, and in the southern state of Rivers.
The government of the southwestern state of Lagos praised the protesters for staying at home.
“Your ending of the protest today is a crystal clear confirmation of the fact that you know your collective voice has been heard by the government,” Lagos State Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso was quoted as saying by the Nigerian daily. The Guardian As I said.
In the meantime, Rubber stamp reported that organizers had threatened a nationwide curfew as part of a “One Million Man March” planned for Saturday.
Why are people protesting?
Nigeria is suffering from a cost-of-living crisis caused by skyrocketing inflation – which has reached its highest level in 28 years – and stagnant wages. The protests came after major strikes failed to achieve some meager progress on the minimum wage.
The protesters demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reduce fuel prices, which had also risen sharply after he implemented a partial abolition of petrol and electricity subsidies and a devaluation of the national currency.
The security forces are accused of using excessive force against demonstrators.
According to the Nigerian newspaper The GuardianThe protests left 22 people dead and 175 injured. The police made 1,154 arrests in connection with the demonstrations, the newspaper reported.
On Sunday, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called on demonstrators to stop their protests and “create space for dialogue.”
Edited by: Alex Berry
