#FearlessInOctober Protest Begins In Lagos And Abuja Over High Cost Of Living [Video]

Thousands of Nigerians have gathered in Lagos and Abuja to protest against rising living costs and energy prices in Africa’s most populous country.

This is happening on the same day Nigeria is marking its 64th year of independence on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

Many Nigerians are proving that today is not a day of celebration, as they urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address the escalating inflation and worsening economic conditions.

The protest, called “FearlessInOctober,” gained traction on social media, coming two months after the August #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.

Both protests had similar themes, with frustrated youths demanding the reinstatement of the petrol subsidy and a reduction in electricity tariffs.

In Abuja’s Utako district, protesters waved the Nigerian flag and held banners with slogans like “EndBadGovernance,” “DiasporaVoting,” and “EndHighLivingCosts.”

A similar scene unfolded in Lagos, particularly in Ikeja, where the youths blocked roads and brought traffic to a halt in protest, on a day declared a public holiday to celebrate Nigeria’s independence.

The demonstrators in Lagos carried banners with bold messages such as “Hunger Dey” and “Reverse Anti-People, Neoliberal Policies of Privatisation, Deregulation and Devaluation of Naira.”

Activist Omoyele Sowore was seen at the Lagos rally, preparing to lead a march to Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota to continue protesting the government’s policies.

In both Lagos and Abuja, security forces were present but kept a reasonable distance from the protesters.

Similar protests took place across several states, despite government and security agency warnings to avoid public demonstrations.

Watch the video below:

End bad government protest going on in Ikeja under bridge 🪧✊🏽

Girl To Girl Ikeja President Bola Ahmad Tinubu #Protest VeryDarkMan pic.twitter.com/Bu7UIrML5G

— NAIJA CONNECT 🇳🇬 (@Naijaconnect_) October 1, 2024

#FearlessInOctober : Government Should Do Something We Barely Eat – Protester Lament#protest || VeryDarkMan || Nigeria || #October1 || #Oct1st || Happy New Month pic.twitter.com/Yz81hJZAwh

— Voice of the People TV (@voptvlive) October 1, 2024

Protesters sang the old national anthem in Lagos as a sign of defiance to the Nigerian government
. #October1 #EndbadGovernment #Protest #Nigeria pic.twitter.com/mfj2esJwh9

— SNOW TV® 📡🎥📺 RC 3662284 (@OfficialSnowtv) October 1, 2024

This amount of police for a peaceful protest?#protest pic.twitter.com/lTs7xCaEjl

— Israel the Edo boy🥷 (@5th_the_god) October 1, 2024

#FearlessInOctober: Protest In Abuja #protest || VeryDarkMan || Nigeria || #October1 || #Oct1st || Happy New Month pic.twitter.com/7wyHGQ49K0

— Voice of the People TV (@voptvlive) October 1, 2024

@instablog9ja #ikeja Lagos #protest pic.twitter.com/X4ra64FbXi

— ARIZONA (@ArizonaofIKEJA) October 1, 2024

KanyiDaily recalls that in his Independence Day address, President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the hardships caused by his reforms, asking Nigerians for patience.