Thousands of Nigerians took to the streets in Lagos and Abuja on October 1, 2024, during the country’s 64th Independence Day celebrations to protest against the high cost of living and energy prices. Demonstrators demanded urgent action from President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address rising inflation and economic hardship.
The protest, tagged #FearlessInOctober, followed earlier demonstrations in August and centered around the government’s controversial policies, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the hike in electricity tariffs. Protesters in both cities carried banners with messages like “EndBadGovernance” and “Reverse Anti-People Policies”.
Despite warnings from authorities, protests spread across several states, with participants lamenting that these policies had significantly worsened living conditions. The protesters called for immediate reforms, as fuel prices skyrocketed and electricity tariffs quadrupled since Tinubu’s administration began in May 2023.
In response to the protests, President Tinubu, during his Independence Day broadcast, appealed for patience, assuring Nigerians that his government was working on measures to ease economic pressure.
