A planned mass protest in Ibadan aimed at expressing dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s economic situation suffered from a low turnout on Monday. The protest, named “End Hardship Nigeria,” was scheduled to take place at the popular Mokola Roundabout in the heart of the city at 8 a.m. However, only a few protesters showed up at the venue by 8:30 a.m., leading to a relocation to Sango-UI road with an estimated 100 participants.
Notable activists coordinated the event, and despite the presence of security agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force and Amotekun personnel, the protest proceeded peacefully. Solomon Emiola, an activist, attributed the poor participation to inadequate communication, stemming from irregular power supply and the spike in fuel prices. Emiola emphasized that the purpose of the protest was to convey to the government the Nigerian people’s inability to endure the existing economic hardship.
Emiola condemned the government’s alignment with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), resulting in the devaluation of the naira. He stressed the citizens’ right to protest under Sections 33 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution and called for the government to address the economic and security crises through a state of emergency.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported these events, highlighting the citizens’ eagerness to hold their leaders accountable for the unmet provisions of Chapter two of the 1999 Constitution. Despite the low turnout, the peaceful protest served as a platform for citizens to voice their concerns about the high cost of living, fuel price hikes, and other unfavorable policies while demanding urgent government action to address the challenges faced by the populace.
