Economic Hardship: CSOs Protest In Lagos Over High Cost Of Living

Members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Monday trooped to the streets of Lagos to protest the high cost of living and soaring food prices.

Protesters under a human rights group identified as the “Take It Back Movement” were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions in the Ojuelegba area of Lagos State.

Though, the Lagos Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade had on Sunday cautioned the protesters against disrupting commercial activities, police officers were spotted at the protest grounds providing security. 

The protesters took their grievances as far as the Maryland axis of the state.

The police responded to the allegations that they stopped the protesters saying: ”This is definitely not true. The Police proactively arrived at the scene to ensure adequate security for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and prevent their procession from being hijacked by hoodlums,”.

The spokesperson for Lagos State Police Command Benjamin Hundeyin while debunking claims that the police had warned against holding any protests in Lagos.

”The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, addressed the protesters before their procession took off in his presence.”

SP Hundeyin also confirmed that the protest went as far as the Maryland area.

”The procession moved as far as Maryland. The Police were with them all through. The protesters played their part well and did not obstruct traffic. The Police provided adequate security and ensured the procession was not hijacked. Everything went fine,” the spokesman said.

He stressed that the protesters properly conducted themselves as no violence was recorded.

”The procession has so far been peaceful without any untoward incident. What can be seen in the picture is CP Fayoade, addressing the joint security team and charging them to be professional, and courteous but firm.”

Similar protests were held in Edo and Osun states where demonstrators marched through the streets with diverse inscriptions such as “End Economic Hardship” and “FG End the Hunger in Nigeria Now,” to drum home their points.