Facing mounting economic hardships, Nigerians are organizing nationwide protests this week against the country’s most severe cost-of-living crisis in decades.
With social media amplifying the unrest, authorities fear a repeat of the violent 2020 demonstrations against police brutality or a situation akin to last month’s chaotic protests in Kenya over a tax hike.
The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, is determined to prevent such scenarios. Despite Nigeria’s status as a major African oil producer, its citizens face significant poverty. Nigerian politicians and lawmakers, often criticized for corruption, are among the highest-paid in Africa, and the president’s wife enjoys luxuries funded by taxpayers.
Nigeria, with a population exceeding 210 million, is also one of the hungriest nations globally, and the government has struggled to generate employment. Under Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023 with promises of “renewed hope,” economic challenges have worsened. Surging inflation and a depreciating currency against the dollar have exacerbated the crisis.
Local media reported that protest organizers rejected a proposal to confine rallies to controlled spaces suggested by the police. Human Rights Watch criticized officials for seeming “troubling readiness to stifle dissent.”
Rev. Peter Odogwu voiced the widespread frustration during a sermon in Abuja, highlighting the severe hardship faced by many Nigerians and the government’s attempts to suppress dissent.
The situation is particularly dire in northeastern Nigeria, where ongoing militancy has left 4.8 million people in urgent need of food. Nationwide, 32 million Nigerians face acute hunger, contributing to 10% of the global food insecurity burden, according to the World Food Program.
Tinubu’s administration has defended its actions by citing food aid, financial support, and a new law that more than doubled government workers’ minimum wage. However, the new minimum wage of $43 is significantly below the amount needed to offset the naira’s devaluation.
Critics argue that Tinubu’s presidency has fallen short of expectations, pointing to worsening security issues in the north and a declining economy. His economic reforms, including the suspension of gas subsidies and currency devaluations, were intended to save government funds and attract foreign investment. However, poor implementation has led to widespread price increases and inadequate support programs.
The removal of gas subsidies has more than doubled petrol prices, leading to increased fuel costs for generators and higher transportation expenses. Many Nigerians now work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
James Ayuba, a laborer in Abuja, described the upheaval: “Everything in Nigeria has turned upside down,” he said, explaining that his family has moved to a cheaper area and he has taken on an additional job to cover basic needs.
