Nigerians marked the country’s 64th independence anniversary on Tuesday with widespread protests against worsening economic conditions, while President Bola Tinubu called for patience amid ongoing reforms. Police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, leading to clashes in several areas.
In various states, dozens of people waved placards and the national green-and-white flag, demanding better job opportunities and solutions for youth unemployment. Despite being one of Africa’s largest oil producers, Nigeria has some of the highest levels of poverty and hunger globally.
This is the second protest in as many months in Nigeria, with the last demonstration in August ending in violence, where at least 20 protesters were killed and hundreds detained. The rising cost of living, driven by recent government policies meant to stabilise foreign investments and reduce public expenditure, has left many citizens struggling.
The government has defended these reforms, even though they have driven inflation to a 28-year high and caused the naira to hit record lows against the dollar.
In Abuja, where government officials attended an independence parade, some protesters in another part of the city faced police crackdowns. Similar security measures were taken in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, where a heavy police presence was deployed. Lagos has a history of violent clashes with police, notably during the 2020 protests against police brutality, which led to several deaths.
President Tinubu, who took office in May last year on a platform of ‘renewed hope,’ acknowledged the difficult impact of the reforms but urged Nigerians to remain patient. He pointed to $30bn in foreign direct investments that have been attracted over the past year as a sign of progress.
‘Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing are beginning to show positive signs, and we can see light at the end of the tunnel,’ Tinubu said in a national broadcast. He also announced a forthcoming national youth conference aimed at addressing key national issues, with recommendations to be considered and implemented.
Protests gained momentum on social media as many Nigerians shared their struggles with unemployment and food shortages.
‘Nigeria remains an unfortunate case of running very hard and staying in the same place,’ Cheta Nwanze, managing partner at Lagos-based research firm SBM Intelligence told The Associated Press (AP). He added that Nigeria continues to lag behind in critical areas like health and education. ‘If your population is not healthy or educated, you can’t possibly make progress,’ Nwanze stated.
