On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, police officers fired teargas at protesters during a rally called “Fearless In October” in Abuja, Nigeria.
Beyond Boders reports that the protest was held to speak out against poor governance in the country.
The protesters gathered at the Utako area of Abuja, waving Nigeria’s Green-White-Green flag and holding banners with messages like “End Bad Governance,” “Diaspora Voting,” and “End High Living Costs.” However, the police dispersed the crowd with teargas.
The protest was organized on social media two months after another protest in August that also focused on ending bad governance. The issues are similar, with many young Nigerians demanding a reversal of the removal of petrol subsidies and the increase in electricity prices.
As the protestors ran for safety from the teargas, they continued to show their discontent with the economic situation in the country.
Critics have blamed President Bola Tinubu’s policies, including the removal of petrol subsidies and changes to the foreign exchange system, for causing high inflation and increasing the cost of living.
Since Tinubu became president on May 29, 2023, energy costs have risen sharply. Petrol prices have jumped from around N200 to over N1,000 per litre, and electricity bills have quadrupled, affecting businesses and households alike.
During Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day speech, President Tinubu asked citizens to be patient, stating that his government is working on new economic policies to help ordinary Nigerians.
He also expressed sympathy for the hardships people are facing, but assured that steps are being taken to lower the cost of living.
