As Nigeria marked its 64th Independence anniversary on Tuesday, thousands of citizens took to the streets in Lagos and Abuja to protest the escalating cost of living and energy prices in Africa’s most populous country.

For many, the celebration was overshadowed by frustration, as demonstrators urged President Bola Tinubu’s government to address the soaring inflation and severe economic difficulties facing the nation.

The protest, dubbed “Fearless in October,” was widely promoted on social media, just two months after the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations in August. Both protests share similar themes, with young Nigerians voicing their anger over the removal of fuel subsidies and the hike in electricity tariffs.

In Abuja, protesters gathered in the Utako district, brandishing the Green-White-Green Nigerian flag alongside banners carrying messages such as “End Bad Governance,” “Diaspora Voting,” and “End High Living Costs.”

In Lagos, a similar scene unfolded around Ikeja, where youths converged near the well-known Ikeja Underbridge, bringing traffic to a halt. The protest took place on a public holiday, set aside to commemorate Nigeria’s independence.

Protesters in Lagos carried banners emblazoned with slogans like “Hunger Dey” and “Reverse Anti-People Policies of Privatisation, Deregulation and Naira Devaluation,” among others. Activist Omoyele Sowore was spotted at the rally, alongside demonstrators preparing to march towards the iconic Gani Fawehinmi Park in the busy Ojota area to continue their protest against what they described as anti-government policies.

Security forces were present in both Lagos and Abuja, keeping a cautious distance from the demonstrators. Despite government warnings and attempts to dissuade protesters, the rallies spread to other parts of Nigeria, with similar protests held in several of the country’s 36 states.

Critics have been vocal about Tinubu’s policies, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange rates, which many believe have exacerbated inflation and worsened living conditions.

Since Tinubu assumed office on 29 May 2023, energy costs have more than tripled. Petrol prices have surged from around N200 per litre to over N1,000, while electricity tariffs have quadrupled, placing immense pressure on both the manufacturing sector and Nigerian households.

During his Independence Day speech, President Tinubu appealed for patience, assuring Nigerians that his government was working to adjust its economic policies to benefit ordinary citizens. He acknowledged the hardship his reforms had caused but promised that efforts were underway to reduce the soaring cost of living.