ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – Nigerians on Tuesday held protests against economic hardship as the West African country celebrated its 64th anniversary of independence when its president called for patience. Police fired tear gas to disperse some of the protesters, leading to clashes.
Dozens of people in several states raised placards and the blue-and-white national flag, demanding better opportunities and jobs for young people, in a country with one of the highest levels of poverty and hunger in the world despite being the world’s leading oil producer. the continent.
It was the second protest in two months in Africa’s most populous country amid difficulties caused by government reforms introduced to save money and reduce foreign investment. In the last demonstration in August, at least 20 protesters were shot dead and hundreds more arrested.
The government defended the reforms even though they helped push inflation to a 28-year high and the naira to depreciate against the dollar.
In the capital, Abuja, where government officials and soldiers attended a ceremony to celebrate independence, some protesters in another part of the city were dispersed with tear gas.
There was heavy security on major roads in other cities, including the economic center of Lagos, where some protesters were killed during demonstrations against police brutality in 2020.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who has been in office since May of last year after an election campaign founded on “renewed hope,” has defended these changes as necessary and said they have already had results, such as 30 billion dollars in foreign direct investment attracted in the end. a year.
“Once again, I urge you to be patient as the changes we are making are showing positive signs, and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Tinubu said on radio.
Tinubu has announced a national youth conference whose recommendations will be considered and implemented on important national issues.
The protests were very intense on social media as many people were complaining about their problems in finding jobs or not having enough food.
Nigeria remains in “the disadvantage of working hard and staying in one place,” said Cheta Nwanze, managing partner at Lagos-based research firm SBM Intelligence.
Nigeria continues to underperform in key areas such as education and health, he said.
“If your people are not healthy… or uneducated, you will not be able to develop,” added Nwanze.