Hundreds of Nigerians demonstrated against the soaring cost of living on Monday in Ibadan, in southwestern Nigeria, after major demonstrations in the north of the country in early February.
Monitored by police and soldiers, the demonstrators closed a road and brandished signs reading “end bad government”, “end food shortage” and “end Nigerian poverty”.
“This hunger is too much,” summarized Olaide Alamu, a 26-year-old student. “Mr Tinubu should do something… Look at us now.”
Upon coming to power in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu ended the fuel subsidy and currency controls, leading to a tripling of gasoline prices and a rise in the cost of living, the naira. losing its value sharply against the dollar.
The Nigerian president has repeatedly asked the population to be patient, affirming that his economic reforms will attract foreign investors and restart the economy.
The country’s inflation rate officially reached 28.92% in December, its highest level in three years.
Many Nigerians have had to give up foods considered “luxury items” such as meat, eggs and milk.
Difficult living conditions in the north have sparked protests in several towns, including Suleja, near the capital Abuja, Minna, Niger state, and Kano, the country’s second city.
dig the earth
The crisis has forced northerners to skip meals and eat poor-quality rice used to feed fish.
Women have even had to dig in the ground to find seeds stored by the ants in order to feed their children, according to videos posted on social networks.
In early February, the influential traditional emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, explained that Nigerians were facing “economic hardship, hunger and starvation” and called on the president to take corrective action. ’emergency.
Titilayo Olusegun, a 38-year-old businessman present at the demonstration in Ibadan, said that “if (the president) cannot solve the problems of Nigerians, he should leave office.”
“There is too much hunger. We can’t pay our children’s school fees, we can’t pay our rent… it’s difficult to eat,” he added.
“The pain is too intense.”
