Different labour unions took to the streets of Lagos to protest hunger and economic hardship on Tuesday morning. FIJ arrived at Ikeja Bridge, the starting point of the protest, around 7:30 am to heavy security, comprising the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officers.

Some of the unions in attendance were the National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees (NUPTE), the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), the National Union of Electricity Employees of Nigeria (NUEE), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Nigeria Civil Service Union, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), the Construction Workers Union, the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers and the National Union of Local government Employees (NULGE).

Protesters held placards bearing inscriptions like “#EndHardship,” “#End Hunger and Poverty Now,” “Stop the IMF imposed policies and affliction destroying our nation and making many Nigerians poor,” “Buy local products, create jobs,” “Stop the looting, tax the rich and subsidize the poor,” “Stop Poverty and Hunger,” and “Petrol Subsidy is a Fraud. Fix the refineries now.”

Funmi Sessi, the Lagos chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said that the protest would be peaceful. She said that the protesters would march to the State House of Assembly to drive home their demands.

”We are marching on a peaceful protest to the House of Assembly to submit the list of our demands and to relieve Nigerians of the untold hardship they are experiencing,” said Sessi.

As of 9:05 am, the protesting workers were yet to start marching to the assembly, as they were still gathered at Ikeja Under Bridge.