Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ Protests against economic hardship continued for a fifth day in several Nigerian states on Monday, despite President Bola Tinubu’s call for an end to the demonstrations, which have been met with a security crackdown.
Although fewer protesters turned out compared to the thousands seen in earlier demonstrations, hundreds still gathered in the economic hub of Lagos and a few northern states. The protests, which began on Thursday, have led to the deaths of at least 13 people and have highlighted the West African nation’s severe cost-of-living crisis, corruption, and alleged misgovernance.
Nigerian security forces have faced accusations of using excessive force against the demonstrators. On Monday, President Tinubu met with security chiefs in Abuja, the capital. In response to reports of looting, a curfew was declared in northern Kaduna state, making it the sixth state to implement such a measure since the protests began.
The cost-of-living crisis in Nigeria is driven by surging inflation, now at a 28-year high, and economic policies that have caused the local currency to hit record lows against the dollar. While President Tinubu assured citizens that the government is committed to addressing their concerns, he did not outline any specific plans, according to the Lagos-based SBM Intelligence research firm.
Over the weekend and on Monday, some protesters were seen waving Russian flags, particularly in northern Nigeria, where the population is among the hardest hit by the economic crisis. The Russian embassy in Nigeria denied any involvement, stating that the flags were personal choices of the protesters and did not reflect any official stance of the Russian Government.
However, Nigeria’s military chief, Christopher Musa, stated that the waving of Russian flags constitutes treason and would be treated as such. Pro-Russian sentiments have been on the rise in parts of West Africa, where Moscow is increasingly welcomed by militaries that have staged coups and cut ties with Western nations. This trend includes Nigeria’s northern neighbor, Niger, where French and American troops have been asked to leave in favor of Russian security partnerships.
President Tinubu cautioned protesters on Sunday not to let “the enemies of democracy use you to promote an unconstitutional agenda” in Nigeria, which currently chairs West Africa’s regional bloc.
Adding to the tension, Nigeria’s secret service reported apprehending some tailors in northern Kano state responsible for making Russian flags distributed in the area, with an ongoing investigation into the matter.
Despite the president’s appeal and the security measures taken, the protests continue, reflecting deep-seated frustrations over economic mismanagement and the lack of clear solutions from the government.
