Nigeria’s Unrest: Can General Strike and Pressure from People Force Change in Policy?

The current state of Nigeria, with its massive population and status as a top oil producer in the world, is at a standstill due to a general strike demanding higher wages. This strike, led by union leaders, is bringing attention to the struggles faced by Nigerians. The country has been facing challenges such as corruption, economic mismanagement, and a weak currency for years now.

President Bola Tinubu’s recent reforms have been blamed for exacerbating the situation and leading to widespread unrest and disruption. The shutdown of the national electric grid and several airports has caused further problems and has prompted questions about whether the government will change its course on the wage issue.

The impact of this strike is being discussed on a recent episode of the program where host Cyril Vanier talked about it with guests Khalil Halilu, CEO of Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Amaka Anku, head of the Africa practice of the Eurasia Group, and Hamzat Lawal, anti-corruption activist and founder of Connected Development. Each guest provided their insights into the situation and potential outcomes.

The question remains – can this pressure from the people force a change in policy and address the economic challenges facing the country? Only time will tell if Nigeria will be able to overcome these difficulties.