Protests in Nigeria Over Rising Fuel Prices and Living Costs

Hundreds demonstrated in major Nigerian cities today, Wednesday, on the first day of a general strike protesting the removal of fuel subsidies and demanding a new minimum wage. Businesses continued to operate despite decreased traffic in some areas. Protesters began their demonstration carrying signs led by union leaders in Lagos, the oil-producing state of Bayelsa, and the cities of Kano and Kaduna in the north of the country. The head of the electricity workers' union in Kano, Oual Moussa Muhammad, stated, "Today's demonstrations are just the beginning of a warning to the government. We give them a week to listen to our demands." Witnesses reported that protesters in the capital, Abuja, broke a gate to the National Assembly as they anticipated a speech from the Senate President. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, since taking office on May 29, has removed subsidies that amounted to ten billion dollars last year and eased foreign exchange regulations.