A group of protesters on Wednesday morning, Democracy Day gathered at the Ikeja Underbridge in Lagos to express their grievances over the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
The action garnered high security presence in the area, with officers of the Nigeria Police Force and officials from the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps present.
The protesters sang songs of solidarity while holding up placards and banners to convey their message with inscriptions like: ‘President Tinubu, let the poor breathe’, ‘For another general strike with mass protest now’, and ‘Payment of living wage to all Nigerian workers now.”
Some civil society groups, including the Take It Back Movement, the Education Rights Campaign, the Coalition for Revolution and the Socialist Workers League, joined in the protest.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu speaking to the nation in commemoration of the 2024 Democracy Day, assured Nigerians that the current national reforms are aimed at “fixing” the economy, not causing hardship.
Tinubu sympathised with the masses, saying he understood the current economic difficulties ravaging the nation.
“There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour.
“As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.
“Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil.
“I say to you here and now that as we celebrate the enshrinement of our political democracy, let us commit ourselves to the fulfilment of its equally important counterpart, the realisation of our economic democracy.
“I understand the economic difficulties we face as a nation.
“As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you,” the president assured.
Alleluia is the Assistant Editor and Content Writer at LagosPost.ng. She is a prolific writer and editor, she has written features and news stories on Lifestyle, Sports, Business, Politics and B2B marketing. She is also an event coordinator, host and social media content creator.
