Nigerians protest against Buhari's austere policies

On May 29, 2017, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari would be two years old and it is expected that the government would roll out its drums in self-praises

- While some would argue that the government has achieved some feats since 2015, many Nigerians are not happy with the current hardship and this has led to a protest

The United Action for Democracy (UAD) has commenced what a member of the group called a series of protests to call the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to order and make it meet the challenges of the economy as it promised during the campaigns in 2015.

The protesters said almost two years into the Buhari administration, the country's hardship has continued without much actions from the government

The civil society group launched the first face of the protests in Lagos on Monday, January 16, 2017 in Lagos after it mobilized residents of the state to come out en-masse for the action.

With the success recorded in Lagos, a member of the group told NAIJ.com in confidence that the protest would be replicated in other states of the federation.

“In Lagos, the protest was successful and against the increasing hardship experienced by the citizens many of whom voted in favour of the All Progressives Congress in 2015.

“It is close to two years after the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari, yet all we hear is the fight against corruption and less concern about the economy.

“The government has banned a lot of products even though we have not started producing for local consumption; the value of the naira has continued to drop as if the country is on auto-pilot.

“So we are going to put the government on its toes henceforth; the time for patience seems over. Nigerians have given the administration up to two years to measure up.

"Remember that from middle of 2017, issues about the 2019 election would become the major concentration. So if nothing is done this year, it means nothing can be achieved again by the government,” he said.

The protest in Lagos commenced in the morning of Monday at the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in Yaba.

The protesters then proceeded to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota, through the Ikorodu road.

Armed with placards carrying various inscriptions, they called on the president to act fast before citizens who voted for him die in pains.

They also urged Nigerians to rise up and reclaim their country from the current crop of politicians whose main goal is t win election and maintain power no matter what it takes.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated that Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) will grow at 0.8 per cent in 2017.

This was contained in its January 2017 World Economic Outlook – 'A Shifting Global Economic Landscape'.