Protesters have blocked Kaduna Road in Niger State, which connects Kaduna to Abuja, just three days before a planned 10-day nationwide protest aimed at addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges.

On Monday, demonstrators carried placards with messages including ‘We Are Not Slaves,’ ‘Enough is Enough,’ ‘Stop Anti-Masses Policies,’ ‘Hardship Is Unbearable,’ and ‘Fuel Subsidy Must Be Back.’ The protesters chanted anti-government slogans, expressing their frustration with the current economic situation.

The planned nationwide protests, set to begin on Thursday, seek to address the rising cost of living and advocate for the reversal of recent government policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidies. Nigeria is experiencing its worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, with food prices more than doubling following President Bola Tinubu’s removal of petrol subsidies and the decision to float the naira.

The government maintains that these policies are necessary for long-term economic stability and that citizens will eventually benefit. In response to the upcoming protests, the government has engaged with traditional rulers, clerics, and other community leaders, while security agencies including the police, the army, and the State Security Service have warned that the protests could be exploited by individuals seeking to incite violence.

Further details will follow as the situation develops.