Thousands hit streets in Nigeria’s nationwide hunger protests

Thousands of Nigerians have taken to the streets across the country this week to protest the deepening hunger crisis caused by rising prices and economic hardship.

Carrying banners and chanting slogans, the demonstrators are calling on the government to urgently address the pervasive lack of access to affordable food and basic necessities affecting many citizens.

"We are protesting because we are hungry," Nigerian activist Banwo Olagokun said as quoted by the BBC.

"The inflation rate has made it impossible for us to afford even simple things like food, water, clothes, and medical care," he explained.

Nigeria is experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades. Annual inflation has skyrocketed to 34.19% - its highest level in almost 30 years.

The price of food has risen even more sharply, with staples like yams nearly quadrupling in cost in some areas over the past year.

Faced with escalating costs and stagnant incomes, many Nigerians say they can no longer afford enough meals each day.

"Everything is costly. Nothing is cheap. People are suffering, people are dying, this hardship is too much," the BBC report further Abosede Ibikunle, a caterer in Lagos whose business has suffered from declining demand.

The protests underscore deep public frustrations with the government's inability to curb inflation and prioritize citizens' access to basic needs.

Demonstrators are calling on officials to reverse policies like fuel subsidy cuts that have significantly raised the cost of living.

They also want more support for employment and education programs.

In response to the demonstrations, the government deployed thousands of police officers and warned protest organizers not to ignite unrest.

However, activists have vowed to continue rallying until their demands are addressed.

“If young people insist and put their boots on the ground, we'll get more," said organizing group Take It Back Movement's Juwon Sanyaolu.

This follows recent nationwide protests in Kenya, where thousands took to the streets in protests against the government’s Finance Bill 2024, in which more than 22 people lost their lives leaving others injured.