Commercial activities around Ikeja, Lagos State capital was marred on Tuesday after human rights activists and dozens of youths gathered to protest against President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and programs, describing it as unbearable.
The protesters, who gathered at the Ikeja Underbridge as the country marks the 2024 Independence Day, were led by former Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, marching on the streets to express their displeasure over the government decisions.
The protesters are currently chanting solidarity songs, displaying placards bearing inscriptions such as “Reverse electricity tariff now, “End all attacks on democratic rights”, “Reduce petrol price to N197 per litre; end scarcity”, and “Profit soars while people suffer.”
Spearheading the protest are some civil society groups, including the Take It Back Movement, the Education Rights Campaign, the Coalition for Revolution, and the Socialist Workers League.
The organisers said the demonstration was a continuation of the #Endbadgovernance protest, which took place from August 1 to 10.
They added that the latest demonstration was necessitated by the failure of the Federal Government to address their demands, which include hunger in the land, the rising cost of hunger, insecurity, government wastefulness, electoral reforms, and human capital development amongst others.
The protest tagged the #FearlessOctober1, however, is being closely monitored by a large contingent of security personnel, including policemen, officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to prevent any breakdown of law and order in the state.
Leading the team of policemen at the protest ground is the state Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola.
