Motorists were left stranded on Wednesday as youths staged a peaceful protest along the ever-busy Benin-Lagos highway, decrying the rising hardship in the country.
The demonstrators blocked the road at the Oluku axis, disrupting vehicular movement and causing a massive traffic gridlock.
The protesting youths said their action was driven by worsening economic conditions, including the hike in petrol pump price, epileptic power supply, poor road infrastructure, and the soaring cost of food items.
They called for urgent government intervention to address the challenges, particularly rising food prices, unemployment, and the general high cost of living.
During the demonstration, the youths displayed placards bearing inscriptions such as “No to petrol hike”, “No to bad road”, and “APC must go,” among others.
The protest, though peaceful, brought traffic to a standstill, with commuters and motorists forced to endure long delays.
The blockade led to a severe gridlock, leaving many passengers with no option but to alight from their vehicles and trek long distances to reach their destinations.
Commercial activities in the area were also affected as movement became increasingly difficult.
According to Daily Trust, in a viral video circulating on social media, one of the protesters expressed frustration over the prevailing economic situation.
“There is hardship in this country, and the governments are doing nothing about it,” the protester said.
He noted that the demonstration was aimed at drawing the attention of authorities to the plight of citizens, urging governments at all levels to take swift action.
According to him, failure to address the situation promptly could lead to further escalation of public discontent.
Comments
Post a Comment