Youths Protest Hardship, Ground Benin-Lagos Expressway

02 April, 2026 | News

Angry youths in Edo State on Wednesday blocked the busy Benin–Lagos Expressway at the Ugbowo axis, protesting worsening economic hardship across the country.

The demonstration caused severe traffic gridlock for several hours, leaving commuters and motorists stranded along the major route.

Eyewitnesses said the protesters barricaded sections of the road, disrupting both inbound and outbound movement, while chanting slogans and voicing frustration over rising living costs and unemployment.

The youths, who did not reveal their identities, displayed placards with messages such as “No Jobs,” “Kidnapping Is Now a Money-Making Venture,” and “Tinubu Must Go.”

Security operatives later arrived at the scene, with police led by the Divisional Police Officer of the Ugbowo Division intervening to restore order and ease traffic flow.

Despite the intervention, the protesters vowed to continue their action until authorities address their concerns.

The protest comes amid growing public dissatisfaction with economic reforms introduced by Bola Ahmed Tinubu since he assumed office in May 2023. While economists argue the measures were necessary, they have significantly increased the cost of living.

Key policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange rate liberalisation, have driven up fuel prices and transport costs, placing additional strain on households.

The situation has been further worsened by global oil market disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, pushing benchmark crude prices close to $100 per barrel.

In Nigeria, petrol prices surged from about ₦195 per litre in early 2023 to over ₦1,100 in recent months, while public transport fares have risen sharply, deepening the financial burden on citizens.

At the same time, persistent electricity shortages—driven by gas supply constraints—have forced many households and businesses to rely on generators, further increasing daily expenses.