A series of new rallies are set to take place in Nigeria on Tuesday, marking the latest wave of protests against the escalating cost of living. Dubbed ‘Fearless October 1’, the demonstrations will coincide with Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day.
Organizers have announced that protests will be held in key cities including the capital, Abuja, the commercial hub of Lagos, and various provincial capitals across the country.
In previous protests during July and August, citizens demanded the return of the fuel subsidy and an end to government corruption. The demonstrations were met with a violent crackdown, with activists reporting that around two dozen people were killed by security forces.
The protests come in response to policies introduced by President Bola Tinubu, who, on his first day in office, removed a long-standing fuel subsidy and devalued the currency twice. These actions have led to steep price hikes across essential goods. Despite the growing discontent, Tinubu has stood firm on his economic policies, offering no concessions in his recent address to the nation.