Scores of residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday, February 19, 2024, took to the street to protest the skyrocketing price of food and economic hardship in the country.

The protesters, who were mostly youths, gathered around the Mokola area of Ibadan to protest the high cost of living.

The youths, who were chanting songs to show their grievances, wielded placards with various inscriptions such as ‘End food hike and inflation’, ‘End bad government’, ‘No more emilokan’, ‘No more elofokanbale’, and ‘The poor are starving’, among others.

Speaking, an activist, Solomon Emiola, said the protest was aimed at telling the government that Nigerians could no longer endure the present economic hardship.

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Emiola said: “This has put everybody in a state of confusion. We don’t know where to go again.

“As citizens of Nigeria, it is expected that the provision of social amenities is the primary duty of every government.

“The provisions of chapter two of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) are not met by our leaders, and we, as citizens, must hold them accountable.

“Sections 33 and 34 empowered every citizen to come out to protest the high cost of living, fuel hike and other abnormal policies.”

He further condemned what he described as the government’s decision to follow the dictates of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), leading to naira devaluation.

“We expect government to declare a state of emergency on the economy and security,” the activist added.

The Star