By Milcah Tanimu
Despite a warning from Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, a human rights group known as the “Take It Back Movement” took to the streets of Lagos State on Monday to protest against the escalating cost of living and food prices in the country.
Commissioner Fayoade had cautioned against the protest, stating that the police were aware of plans for the demonstration and would ensure the safety of lives and property of Lagosians.
Undeterred, protesters converged under the Ojuelegba bridge, brandishing placards bearing various grievances about the current economic challenges facing the nation.
Juwon Sanyaolu, the TIB National Coordinator, emphasized that the protest was a reflection of the people’s resistance against oppressive conditions and economic hardship.
Despite police attempts to discourage the protest, Sanyaolu noted the determination of Lagosians to exercise their rights peacefully. He also announced plans to continue the protest the following day and expressed solidarity with the NLC’s nationwide mass action against the ruling elite’s policies.
Among the demands voiced by protesters was the immediate reversal of the fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira, along with other policies imposed by international financial institutions.
The protest saw participation from various civil society organizations, including the Joint Action Front and the Coalition for Revolution, with police officers and members of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps monitoring the situation closely.