From the very moment Bola Ahmed Tinubu raised his hand and declared “Subsidy is gone”, Nigeria has barely known peace.
What was meant to be the dawn of a “renewed hope” era has instead felt, to many Nigerians, like the beginning of unending resistance, street anger, and simmering outrage.
Across the country, frustration has spilled from social media timelines onto highways, ministry gates, university campuses, and even the sacred corridors of power in Abuja.
The streets have spoken — loudly. And if protests are the true barometer of public trust, then Tinubu’s government has been under pressure almost from day one.
Supporters insist the pain is necessary, a bitter pill Nigeria must swallow to survive. Critics say the suffering is deliberate, poorly managed, and disconnected from the realities of everyday Nigerians.
In between these two extremes lies a volatile nation where hunger, inflation, job losses, and perceived elite indifference have combined into a combustible mix.
What is clear is this: Tinubu’s presidency has faced more public pushback in its early phase than many expected.
Below are five major protests that have shaken his government, exposed deep national anxieties, and ignited fierce debates about leadership, policy, and the future of Nigeria.
1. The Fuel Subsidy Removal Protests: The Day Nigeria Boiled Over
This was the spark that lit the fire.
When President Tinubu announced the immediate removal of fuel subsidy on his inauguration day, the policy landed like a thunderbolt.
Within days, fuel prices skyrocketed, transport fares doubled and tripled, food prices followed, and ordinary Nigerians felt the shock in their bones.
Labour unions, civil society groups, and angry citizens poured into the streets, accusing the government of ambushing the people without adequate cushioning measures.
For many Nigerians, subsidy removal was not just an economic decision — it was seen as an assault on survival.
The protests forced emergency negotiations with labour and exposed the fragile social contract between the government and the governed.
To this day, subsidy removal remains the single most controversial decision of Tinubu’s presidency.
2. The Nationwide “Hunger” Protests: When Survival Became Political
As inflation worsened and the naira continued its free fall, hunger became the loudest protest chant in Nigeria.
From urban slums to semi-urban towns, demonstrators took to the streets waving empty plates and placards bearing messages like “We are hungry” and “Food is no longer affordable.”
These protests were not organised by political parties or unions — they were raw, emotional, and spontaneous.
Critics argued that Tinubu’s economic reforms were elite-driven experiments being tested on the poor. Supporters countered that Nigeria had lived a lie for decades and was finally facing reality.
Either way, the hunger protests revealed a painful truth: many Nigerians felt abandoned by a government promising long-term gains while ignoring short-term suffering.
3. Labour vs Tinubu: The Minimum Wage and Cost-of-Living Showdown
The organised labour movement has remained one of the loudest thorns in Tinubu’s side.
With the cost of living soaring, labour unions repeatedly threatened and sometimes carried out strikes, accusing the government of insensitivity and delay tactics over wage adjustments.
Workers argued that salaries had become meaningless in the face of rising transport, food, rent, and electricity costs.
Each confrontation followed the same script: warnings,
protests, negotiations, temporary suspensions, and unresolved tension.
To many Nigerians, it felt like governance by exhaustion — wear the people down until they accept whatever is offered.
4. Student and Youth Protests: Education Under Siege
Students have also emerged as a restless and angry demographic under Tinubu’s watch.
Protests erupted over rising school fees, prolonged academic disruptions, and uncertainty around education funding.
Youth groups accused the government of prioritising macroeconomic figures over human capital development.
For a generation already battling unemployment and hopelessness, these protests were about more than school fees — they were about a future that feels increasingly unreachable.
The fear is clear: if education collapses, so does the promise of national progress.
5. Contractors and Civil Groups Storming Government Institutions
Perhaps one of the most symbolic protests has been the sight of contractors and civil groups blocking government buildings in Abuja.
From unpaid contractors demanding settlement of verified debts to advocacy groups protesting policy inconsistencies, these demonstrations have hit close to the heart of power.
When people are bold enough to shut down ministry gates, it signals something deeper than dissatisfaction — it signals loss of confidence.
The Bigger Question Tinubu’s Government Must Answer
Individually, each protest can be explained away.
Together, they tell a louder story.
They suggest a nation where economic reforms are racing ahead of social consent, where explanations are abundant but relief is scarce, and where patience—Nigeria’s most abused resource—is running dangerously low.
Also Read: FCT Workers Shut Down Government Offices Over Unresolved Labour Issues
Tinubu may still insist that history will vindicate his policies. Protesters insist history is happening now, in empty pockets and crowded streets.
The real controversy is no longer whether Nigerians are protesting.
It is how many more protests it will take before governance begins to feel humane again.