Mass protests planed as Nigerians take to the streets over skyrocketing food prices and inflation amidst deepening economic hardship.

Poor masses will be out on the streets from 1st to 10th August 2024; in protest across the nation over hunger and inflation, despite suffering the unprecedented economic hardship facing Nigeria. The “No Food Protest” is to force the hand of the government to do something about the crippling effects that the alarming rise in inflation, now above 40%, has since the coming into office of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in May 2023.Their demands, supposedly a rhythm of a tired nation, are multifaceted and include the following:- Reduce the pump price of fuel to ₦200 and that of diesel to ₦400 per liter- Reduce gas price to ₦300 per kg- Refine crude oil using Nigeria’s four refineries- Open all borders to a free market economy- Identify and terminate all sponsors of insecurity Reduction of school fees in secondary and tertiary institutions by 70%Subsidization of hospital bills in government hospitals Minimum wage for unemployed graduates as a way to engage them and reduce crime Reducing the prices of nomination forms for political Offices Implementing the agreements reached at the 2014 National Confab Reducing salaries for public office holders by 70%Public office holders must make their children study in Nigerian institutions Compulsorily Historically, mass protests have always been very instrumental in changing and bringing change to countries. For instance, the Arab Spring protests in 2011 caused regime changes in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. Again in Chile, the 2019-2020 protests made it possible to rewrite the constitution of the country.The 2020 #EndSARS protests that swept across Nigeria raised the world’s consciousness in terms of police brutality and elicited promises of reform. The government, however, has done nothing to this effect, and their actions are pushing a people already filled with discontent to the limit. For instance, with the upcoming “No Food Protest.”With increasing pressure on President Tinubu, his administration must respond immediately to the protesters to have the dashing of the economic crisis stopped. The removal of fuel subsidies, announced just in an inaugural speech, heaped more burden on the poor masses.Will the government heed the protesters’ calls, or will it escalate the situation? Only time will tell.