Motorists were stranded in traffic yesterday as Edo State youths staged a peaceful protest along the Benin-Lagos highway over what they described as hardship in the country. The youths said they were protesting over several issues, ranging from a hike in petrol pump price, epileptic power supply, poor state of roads, and high cost of food items, among others.
The group demanded immediate government intervention to address rising food prices, unemployment and the high cost of living in the country.
The protesters, who blocked the ever-busy Benin-Lagos road by the Oluku axis, carried placards with various inscriptions saying “No to petrol hike”, “No to bad road”, “APC must go”, and others.
The protest caused a serious gridlock, forcing some passengers to alight from their vehicles and trek to their respective destinations.
In a viral video going round social media, a protester said the protest was to register their displeasure over the economic hardship in the country.
“There is hardship in this country, and the governments are doing nothing about it,” the protester said.
He expressed that the protest was intended to draw the government’s attention to their plight, calling on governments at all levels to respond quickly before the situation escalates.