Hundreds of angry youths on Wednesday took over the ever-busy Benin-Lagos expressway, protesting against what they described as economic hardship in the country.
The protesters, mainly youths and students from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), used heavy logs, vehicles, and burning tyres to block movement on both sides of the highway.
They also set bonfires on the motorway.
The development, it was gathered, resulted in heavy gridlock as motorists and commuters were left stranded, forcing passengers within the Benin metropolis to leave their vehicles and trek to their destinations.
It was learned that thousands of travellers, including commercial transporters and private car owners, were trapped, with some reportedly turning back to find alternative routes.
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The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, such as “No to petrol hike,” “No to bad roads,” and “APC must go,” among others.
They said they were protesting against several issues, ranging from the hike in petrol prices, epileptic power supply, poor state of roads, and high cost of food items.
They, however, demanded urgent government intervention to address rising food prices, unemployment, and the high cost of living in the country.
In a viral video, a protester said the demonstration was to express their displeasure over the economic hardship in the country.
“There is hardship in this country, and the governments are doing nothing about it.
“We are tired of the promises. Our parents are suffering, students are starving, and the road is the only place they will hear us.
“The protest is to draw the attention of the government to our plight. We are calling on the government at all levels to act quickly before things get out of hand,” he said.
Some observers described the protest as a reflection of the growing frustration among young Nigerians.
They noted that the hardship in the country is biting harder and that many young people feel political leaders are not connecting enough with their daily realities.
