“We are protesting because we are hungry,” says Nigerian activist Banwo Olagokun to the BBC. He is part of the Take It Back Movement, which has called for 10 days of protests starting Thursday, despite government pleas to cancel. “Inflation has made basic necessities unaffordable – food, water, clothes, medicals,” adds Olagokun, 36.
Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis in a generation, with annual inflation at 34.19%, the highest in nearly three decades. Food prices have soared; in Lagos, yams are almost four times more expensive than last year. While Nigerians are known for their resilience, many now resort to nearly rotten tomatoes, lower-grade rice, and fewer meals.
The Take It Back Movement demands that the government address the cost-of-living crisis and provide free education at all levels. “We want to reverse the things making life expensive,” Olagokun says. More radical demands include scrapping the 1999 constitution, allowing overseas Nigerians to vote, and releasing Biafran separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu from prison.
Juwon Sanyaolu, 31, the national coordinator, says the movement is inspired by recent youth-led protests in Kenya, which forced President William Ruto to scrap a controversial tax rise. He believes their demands are realistic and can lead to change. “They’re only exercising democracy,” Sanyaolu says.
The protests have caught the government’s attention. President Bola Tinubu appealed for patience, while several state governors warned against violence. In recent days, government agencies have announced various concessions, including financial support for young entrepreneurs and job openings at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. However, protest organizers say these offers are insufficient, fueling their determination for change.