Protesters have blocked the Kaduna Road, a key highway in Niger State that links Kaduna to Abuja, three days ahead of a planned 10-day nationwide protest aimed at demanding improvements in Nigeria’s economic situation.
The demonstrators, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We Are Not Slaves,” “Enough is Enough,” “Stop Anti-Masses Policies,” “Hardship Is Unbearable,” and “Fuel Subsidy Must Be Back,” voiced their discontent by chanting anti-government slogans.
Their actions reflect a broader sense of urgency and frustration, with some unwilling to wait until Thursday to make their voices heard.
The upcoming nationwide protests are organized by various groups seeking an improvement in the cost of living and a reversal of certain government policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidies.
Nigeria is currently grappling with its worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. Food prices have more than doubled following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove petrol subsidies and float the naira, allowing market forces to determine its value.
While the government maintains that these policies are necessary for long-term economic benefits, many Nigerians are struggling with the immediate impact.
In response to the unrest, the government has been engaging with traditional rulers, clerics, and other influential groups in an effort to prevent the protests.
Security agencies, including the police, army, and State Security Service, have issued warnings that the protests could be hijacked by individuals intent on causing violence.
Nonetheless, the protesters’ actions on Kaduna road suggest a growing impatience and determination to hold the government accountable for the country’s economic hardships.