Oluwatosin Enesi
A coalition of civil society groups, labour activists, and students under the banner of the Oyo State Coalition Against Hardship and Hunger staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan on Thursday to demand urgent government action on pressing national issues.
The demonstrators marched through major areas including Mokola, Adamasingba, and Dugbe, voicing their concerns over rising economic hardship, growing insecurity, and the need for genuine electoral reforms.
The protesters’ demands included:
An end to hunger and worsening economic conditions
A reversal of anti-poor policies allegedly influenced by the IMF and World Bank
An end to insecurity across the country
Protection of democratic rights
Comprehensive electoral reforms
Speaking at the protest, Professor Ademola Aremu, former Chairman of ASUU at the University of Ibadan and current Coordinator of the Joint Action Front, called on all tiers of government to prioritize the welfare and safety of Nigerians.
“We want a country where people can sleep peacefully, travel without fear, and where farmers can return to their lands safely,” Aremu stated.
Security personnel were stationed at key points to ensure the protest remained peaceful and was not hijacked by disruptive elements.
In a related development, similar demonstrations took place in Lagos where citizens gathered under the Ikeja Under bridge. Protesters, visibly frustrated by the economic strain under the Tinubu administration, carried placards with messages such as “Reverse Electricity Tariff Hike” and “No one deserves a death sentence for protesting against hunger.”
Despite the heavy presence of security forces, the protests remained largely peaceful in both cities.
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