 |
| Nigerians Begin Fresh Protests In Suleja Near Federal Capital, Abuja Over Hardship Inflicted By Tinubu Government #SulejaProtests |
Nigerians in Suleja, a town near the federal capital Abuja, have begun fresh protests over the hardship they say they are facing under the government of President Bola Tinubu.Suleja, the bustling commercial hub of Niger State, finds itself engulfed in another wave of protests, mere kilometers away from the seat of federal power in Abuja. Images captured by SaharaReporters depict enraged citizens flooding the streets on Wednesday, their voices echoing demands for urgent action from the government led by President Bola Tinubu to alleviate the economic hardship and insecurity plaguing the country.
Dozens of Nigerians took to the streets in Suleja, near the Federal Capital, Abuja on Wednesday, in fresh protests over the economic hardships experienced under the Tinubu-led Government, according to reports. Pictures of the protests emerged on X, showing several young people holding banners and placards calling for an end to the hardship. One of the large banners read: “Nigerians are suffering. Stop the hardship now.” Another read: “Leadership is all about improving the life of the masses. Tinubu do something now!
The protesters also expressed their dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living, the lack of basic amenities, the high unemployment rate, and the rampant insecurity in the country. They accused the Tinubu administration of being insensitive, corrupt, and incompetent, and demanded a change of leadership. Some of the protesters also chanted slogans such as “Tinubu must go”, “Enough is enough”, and “We want our country back”.
The protesters, who gathered on Wednesday, said they were tired of the rising cost of food and other basic necessities, as well as the high rate of unemployment.
They called on the government to take action to address these problems, or they would continue to protest.
A spokesman for the protesters, who did not want to be named, said: "We are tired of suffering. We cannot afford to feed our families anymore. The government needs to do something about this."
The Suleja protests are the latest in a series of demonstrations that have rocked Nigeria in recent months, as citizens express their frustration and anger over the deteriorating state of affairs in the country. In October 2020, thousands of Nigerians took part in the #EndSARS protests, which started as a call to end police brutality and expanded into a wider movement for good governance and accountability. The protests were met with violent crackdowns by the security forces, resulting in several deaths and injuries. The government also imposed a curfew and banned social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, sparking outrage and criticism from human rights groups and the international community.
In January 2024, thousands of federal civil servants, which the President Bola Tinubu’s administration has not paid since May 2023, staged protests in Abuja over the poor and tiring process of getting captured by the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). The IPPIS was introduced by the government as a way to eliminate ghost workers and reduce payroll fraud, but it has been plagued by technical glitches and delays, leaving many workers without salaries for months. The protesters demanded the immediate payment of their arrears and the improvement of the IPPIS system.
The Tinubu government, which came into power in 2023 after Muhammadu Buhari in a controversial election, has been facing mounting criticism and opposition from various quarters, including civil society groups, opposition parties, religious leaders, and regional groups. The government has been accused of failing to deliver on its campaign promises, such as reviving the economy, fighting corruption, improving security, and restructuring the country. The government has also been accused of being authoritarian, nepotistic, and divisive, as it has allegedly clamped down on dissenting voices, favored certain ethnic groups over others, and ignored the calls for dialogue and reconciliation.
The Suleja protests are a clear indication of the growing discontent and disillusionment among Nigerians, who are tired of the status quo and yearn for a better future. The protesters have vowed to continue their agitation until their demands are met, and have called on other Nigerians to join them in their struggle for justice and dignity. The government, on the other hand, has yet to respond to the protests, and has maintained a deafening silence on the issues raised by the protesters. The question remains: how long can the government ignore the cries of the people, and how long can the people endure the hardship?
The protests come as Nigeria is facing a number of economic challenges, including a fall in the price of oil, the country's main export.
The government has said it is taking steps to address these challenges, but the protesters say they are not seeing any results.
It is not yet clear how long the protests will last, but they are likely to continue unless the government takes some action to address the concerns of the protesters.
Hashtags: #EndHardship #TinubuMustGo#SulejaProtests #NigeriaDecides #WeWantOurCountryBack #Nigeria #Protest #Tinubu #Hardship #Economy #Suleja #Abuja #CostOfLiving #Unemployment #GovernmentAction
