Police officers on Tuesday fired teargas at demonstrators during the “Fearless in October” protest against bad governance in Abuja, Nigeria.
The protesters, gathered in the Utako area of the Federal Capital Territory, waved the Nigerian Green-White-Green flag and carried banners with inscriptions such as “End Bad Governance,” “Diaspora Voting,” and “End High Living Costs.” However, the protest was dispersed by the police using teargas.
The October 1, 2024 protest, tagged “Fearless in October,” gained momentum on social media, following a similar #EndBadGovernance demonstration in August. Both protests share common themes as young Nigerians call for the reversal of policies like the removal of the petrol subsidy and the hike in electricity tariffs.
Critics have blamed President Bola Tinubu’s policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange rates, for causing significant inflation and skyrocketing energy costs in the country. Since President Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, petrol prices have risen from around ₦200 to over ₦1,000 per litre, and electricity tariffs have quadrupled, straining both households and the manufacturing sector.
In his Independence Day broadcast, the president urged Nigerians to be patient, acknowledging the economic hardship caused by his reforms. He assured the public that his administration is working to lower the cost of living through ongoing economic measures.
ADBN NEWS
