Residents of Osun State, predominantly youths, continued their protest in Osogbo on Friday, demanding the reversal of fuel subsidy removal and an end to naira devaluation.
The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria initiative began on Thursday, with protesters gathering at Friday Park, Osogbo. They were accompanied by police officers and personnel from the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Department of State Security.
Marching through MDS Road to Olaiya Junction and Odi-Olowo Street, demonstrators expressed their dissatisfaction with both the federal and state governments, citing significant hardships imposed on Nigerians. They vowed to persist with the protests until their demands are addressed.
After returning to Olaiya Junction, the protesters performed ablution and observed Jumaat prayers on the street, with security personnel ensuring their safety throughout the prayers.
Once the prayer concluded, the attendees dispersed. During the event, the convener of Nigeria for Good Governance criticized the federal and state governments for their poor priorities, emphasizing that the current unrest reflects a growing public discontent.
He stated, “The situation continues to deteriorate, and we seem to be at a breaking point. The president’s decision to eliminate fuel subsidies has put the entire nation at risk. Adding to this, the severe devaluation of the naira has exacerbated the crisis.”
He continued, “While we acknowledge that the subsidy system was flawed, the removal was mishandled, resulting in little to no benefit for ordinary Nigerians. In Osun, past administration investments in youth employment yielded positive economic contributions, which have since diminished.”
He warned that the government’s failure to heed the concerns of the masses could lead to significant unrest, stressing the importance of addressing key demands such as reinstating fuel subsidies, halting currency devaluation, and opening borders for food imports.
In concluding remarks, the Osun Coordinator of Coalition of Concern Nigeria Citizens reassured participants that plans were in place to maintain peace throughout the protests.
