Nigeria's Strategic Moves to Prevent Nationwide Youth Protests Over Economic Hardships

Ahead of nationwide protests over economic hardship, Nigeria offers job opportunities in its state oil company and relaunches a substantial youth investment fund to dissuade unrest. Despite warnings from various sectors and the government, young Nigerians are set to demonstrate against rising inflation and high living costs.

Nigeria is taking strategic steps to deter nationwide protests over economic grievances by offering young people jobs in its state oil company and billions of naira in grants. The move comes days before scheduled protests over bad governance and high living costs.

Inspired by youth-led protests in other African nations like Kenya and Uganda, Nigerian activists are organizing for significant action. The state oil company announced nationwide job vacancies for the first time in nearly a decade, crashing its website with a flood of applications. Additionally, the ministry of youth development relaunched a 110 billion naira ($70 million) youth investment fund to provide job-generating grants.

Despite these measures and warnings from security forces and government officials, Nigerians are organizing online for protests set to begin from Aug. 1. The government has sought more time to resolve economic issues, but activists argue they have a right to peaceful demonstrations, suspecting the warnings are a guise for a potential crackdown.

(With inputs from agencies.)