Pushed to the brink by the prevailing economic hardship in the country, hundreds of frustrated Nigerians took to the streets on Wednesday in Benin City, Edo State, in protest and clamouring for the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the massive protest which took place at the Ugbowo axis of the busy Benin-Lagos Expressway, caused gridlock around the University of Benin, Isihor, Oluku and Ekosodin areas as the demonstrators, mostly youths, blocked the road.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “No Jobs,” “Kidnapping Is Now a Money-Making Venture,” “Bring Back Jonathan”, and “Tinubu Must Go.”
They were protesting increase in the price of petrol that has led to increase in transport fare, deplorable condition of the roads in that axis, unemployment, among other issues making life unbearable for them.
The few armed policemen that initially came to control the crowd were overwhelmed and they had to withdraw to a nearby petrol station from where they watched as the protesters took over the highway.
Many commuters were stranded while some students at the University of Benin who were writing their first semester examination also got caught in the protest with one of them who gave her name as Precious, complaining that she had to trek from Ekosodin junction to the campus because vehicles were at a standstill.
One of the protesters, Osaro Osagie, who displayed 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.
Ojo noted that “The hardship in the country is biting harder, and many young people feel political leaders are not connecting enough with their daily realities”.
As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official reaction by the state government.
Security was however beefed up within the Benin metropolis to forestall breakdown of law and order.
The youths, however, vowed to sustain the protest until their concerns are addressed by the authorities.