Protest in Edo over hardship, hike in fuel price others

By Ozioruva Aliu

VEHICULAR movements around Ugbowo, Isior, Oluku and Ekosodin axis of Benin City were locked down on Wednesday from afternoon to evening as hundreds of people, mostly youths, blocked that axis of the Benin-Lagos Highway, causing gridlock.

The protesters were protesting against economic hardship, increase in the price of petrol, which has led to increase in transport fares, among others.

The few armed policemen who initially came to control the crowd were overwhelmed as they had to retreat to a nearby petrol station and watched as the protesters took over the highway.

Some students of the University of Benin who are writing their first semester examination also got caught in the protest, as one of them, who gave her name as Precious, said he had to trek from Ekosodin Junction to the school since vehicles could not move.

One of them, Osaro Osagie, carrying a placard that read “Bring back Jonathan” told journalists that “We are tired of the situation in the country. The price of petrol is high and the drivers have also increased the cost of transportation. Nigeria is the only country where, in 2026, we still do not have light.

“The roads are bad, look at where we are standing now (opposite S & T Barrack Road), the road is bad, all the water flows back into the road and it has become impassable.

“These our political leaders are not sensitive to our plight,” he said.

A public affairs analyst, Jide Ojo, said the protest reflects growing frustration among young Nigerians.

“The hardship in the country is biting harder, and many young people feel political leaders are not connecting enough with their daily realities,” he said.

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