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#NigeriaAt64: Protesters Gather In Lagos, Abuja Over High Living Costs
As Nigeria celebrates 64 years of independence from British colonial rule on Tuesday, thousands of citizens gathered in the nation’s economic and political capitals, Lagos and Abuja, respectively, to protest high living and energy costs in Africa’s most populous nation.
For them, it is not a time for celebration as they called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address the soaring inflation and unprecedented economic hardship in the country.
The October 1, 2024 protest, tagged “FearlessInOctober”, was propagated on social media, some two months after the August #EndBadGovernance protests.
The two demonstrations are synonymous in themes as aggrieved young people demand a reversal of petrol subsidy removal and electricity tariff increase.
On Tuesday, protesters gathered at the Utako area in Abuja, the country’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), waving the Nigerian Green-White-Green flag and banners with various inscriptions such as “EndBadGovernance”, “DiasporaVoting”, “EndHighLivingCosts”, amongst others.
In Lagos, around the state capital in Ikeja, the situation was the same as youths besieged the popular Ikeja UnderBridge area, with vehicular movement at a standstill on a day already declared a public holiday by the government for the celebration of Nigeria’s independence.
The protesters in Lagos also wielded large-format banners with boldly encrusted statements like, “Hunger Dey”, and “Reverse Anti-People, Neoliberal Policies Of Privatisation, Deregulation and Devaluation of Naira”, among others.
Activist Omoyele Sowore was spotted at the Lagos venue of the rally where he and other demonstrators geared up to march to the iconic and eponymous Gani Fawehinmi Park in the ever-busy Ojota area of Lagos to continue the protest against what they have termed anti-government policies.
Both in Lagos and Abuja, scores of security agents were seen on alert at the protest locations where they maintained a respectable distance from the demonstrators.
Aside from Lagos and Abuja, defiant protesters also gathered in some of Nigeria’s 36 states to trumpet their demands.
The protests were held despite many warnings and dissuations from the government and security agencies.
Critics have faulted Tinubu’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the foreign exchange rates which many Nigerians believed were responsible for the unimaginable inflation and soaring living and energy costs in the country.
Energy costs have more than tripled since Tinubu took up the reins of government on May 29, 2023.
Petrol prices per litre jumped up from around N200 to over N1,000 whilst electricity tariff quadrupled, impacting the manufacturing sector and the pocket of Nigerian households.
During his second Independence Day Anniversary Broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu pleaded for more patience and time, saying his administration is retooling its economic policies for the good of common Nigerians.
The former Lagos governor sympathised with Nigerians over the economic hardship his reforms might have caused whilst he assured them that his administration had been busy implementing measures to bring down the skyrocketing cost of living.
The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to commence hearings on September 30 in a case involving a leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The suit, filed by Nafiu Bala, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman, challenges the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as interim National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim National Secretary.
Respondents in the case include the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.
At Monday’s proceedings, plaintiff’s lawyer Michael Agber informed Justice Emeka Nwite that court documents had been served on Mark and Aregbesola through the ADC’s office. The ADC’s counsel, Shuaib Aruwan (SAN), clarified that he represents only the party, not the individual respondents.
Justice Nwite adjourned the hearing, directing that all respondents be properly served with court processes.
Earlier on September 4, the court denied Nafiu Bala’s request for an immediate injunction against Mark and Aregbesola but ordered that all parties be notified to respond.
About 40 worshippers were abducted by suspected terrorists at a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, during early morning prayers.
The attack reportedly occurred around 5:30 a.m. when gunmen stormed the mosque, surrounded it, and took the worshippers hostage. The captors are said to have taken the victims into nearby forests around the Gohori axis in Tsafe LGA.
This incident has plunged the rural community into fear and despair, especially as local leaders and some armed groups had recently engaged in peace talks aimed at reducing violence during the farming season.
Efforts to obtain confirmation or comment from Zamfara Police authorities were unsuccessful.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent Yazid Abubakar, did not respond to calls or messages seeking information on the abduction.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has initiated the process for appointing five new Permanent Secretaries, following the approval of President Bola Tinubu.
The vacancies include two positions created by the recent retirements of Permanent Secretaries from Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as three zonal vacancies in the North-Central, North-East, and South-East, resulting from the establishment of new ministries.
Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, announced the development in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Eno Olotu. She noted that the process is structured to ensure transparency, merit, and credibility, in line with the administration’s commitment to good governance.
Eligible candidates must be serving civil servants on Grade Level 17, with a minimum of two years on the rank and no ongoing disciplinary issues, as confirmed by their respective Permanent Secretaries.
The selection process began with the compilation and screening of eligible candidates by a Committee of Permanent Secretaries, under the observation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS). Candidates also completed asset declaration forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau, while clearances from the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS are ongoing.
The next phase, a written examination, will take place on September 15 at a designated Federal Government facility. Successful candidates will then proceed to an ICT proficiency test on September 17, followed by a final oral interview scheduled for September 19.
The interview panel will comprise serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, former Heads of Service, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, and representatives from the private sector. Anti-corruption agencies will also monitor the process.
Walson-Jack emphasized that the exercise reflects the government’s focus on professionalism, institutional strength, and enhanced service delivery within the civil service.
Since assuming office, President Bola Tinubu has appointed at least 26 Permanent Secretaries. Eight were sworn in during November 2023, another eight in June 2024, eight more in December 2024, and two additional appointments followed in March 2025.
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