Tension, Confusion As Protests Rock Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Others

There has been widespread tension and confusion as protests against the scarcity of new naira notes by Nigerians have continued to spread to many parts of the country.

Protests  broke out on Friday in Lagos, Rivers, Ogun, Ondo, and Oyo states.

Pictures and videos in reports on social media showed bonfires, road blockages where motorists were in gridlocks, and stranded commuters.

In Lagos, residents were stranded as protests broke out around the Ojota area of the state before spreading to Maryland, Ketu, Mile 12, and some parts of Ikorodu.

Some road users were seen scampering for safety as some of the protesters attacked motorists.

Along some parts of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, there was no movement of vehicles as Magboro and Asese were blocked off by another band of protesters.

Videos showed that both sides of the expressway along Magboro were blocked with plumes of smoke from burning tyres.

In Ogun, several road blockages were mounted by the protesters in Ifo LGA of the state with commercial activities affected.

Bonfires were also lit on both sides of the Lagos-Benin expressway as residents of Odigbo LGA in Ondo state demonstrated against the cash crunch.

Protesters also blocked some portions of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway at the Soka area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo, with motorists stranded in long gridlock.

Residents also took to the streets in Rivers state to protest the new naira notes scarcity.

There have been protests across parts of the country since the federal government’s redesign of N200, N500, and N1000 notes led to the scarcity of naira in the country.