Hundreds of protesters in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, took to the streets on Sunday, flooding the popular Bauchi Road and issuing a stern warning to business owners to either join them on Monday or shut down their establishments.
The protesters emphasized that this action is intended to prevent any potential damage to properties.
The demonstrators expressed their dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s Sunday broadcast, which they claim failed to address the nation’s pressing challenges. They vowed to mobilize more people to join the protest as a means of voicing their concerns to the government.
The protesters, a mix of adults and young people, were seen carrying placards, leaves, and flags from various countries as they moved from street to street, warning, “No business tomorrow. Everyone should come out tomorrow for the protest.”
The primary demands of the protesters are the removal of the fuel subsidy and the addressing of insecurity in the country. In his broadcast, Tinubu ruled out the return of the fuel subsidy, stating that although the decision to remove it was painful, it was necessary for the nation’s economic health.
“I therefore took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our nation and impeded our economic development and progress,” Tinubu stated.
The protesters believe that only through continued demonstrations can they effectively communicate their grievances and dissatisfaction with the government’s actions.