LAGOS- The streets of Ikeja and Agege axis were deserted on Thursday morning as youths from two different groups staged protests and counter protests over hardship.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group against the hardship ,numbering 100 ,converged on Ikeja Under Bridge, chanting solidarity songs.
The procession moved amidst water -tight security with protesters carrying placards with various inscriptions calling for an end to hardship.
Violence almost broke out around Allen when as a bystander attacked some of the protesters.
However ,policemen escorting the protesters quickly responded to save the situation.
Some of the protesters, who spoke with NAN ,expressed concerns about the state of the economy.
One of the leaders of the protesters ,who declined to give his name, said the protest was not against anyone ,but about a better country.
The protester said he joined President Bola Tinubu to protest against military dictatorship and later against policies of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He called for decisive actions to alleviate the sufferings of the masses.
Another protester, Comrade Edafe Oghenebrume from Renaissance Group, attributed the hardship faced by the masses to implementation of IMF recommendations.
Edafe urged the government to dump the IMF agenda for progress.
Another protester, Oluwkemi Odukoya called for urgent solutions to the nation’s food inflation.
On the other side, youths numbering supporting the government staged their own protest from the same Ikeja Under- Bridge and made stops at various points to display their messages on banners.
Unlike the #Endbadgovernance# group, the pro-government group,comprising about 15 youths, moved quietly and displayed their messages without security cover.
Also, another group led by a civil society group also led a group of about 30 youths carrying placards with various inscriptions.
One of the members, Mr Ade Balogun, told NAN that they were not protesting, but were rallying against violence.
Meanwhile, markets on the axis were closed as at the time of filling this report.
Some residents attributed the closure of the markets to the weekly market sanitation.( NAN)
