The inmates began protesting as soon as they were informed of a reduction in food size.
The protest over rising hunger in Nigeria took a different dimension on Friday as inmates staged a protest over a plan to reduce their food ration at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Jos, Plateau State capital.
The inmates began protesting as soon as they were informed of a reduction in food size.
During the demonstration, the inmates refused to follow orders from custodial personnel and skipped breakfast.
They crowded in the middle of the jail yard, shouting at the top of their voices, but custodial officers deployed tear gas to send them back to their quarters.
The Comptroller of the Jos Correctional Center, Raphael Ibinuhi, confirmed the protest of the inmates to Daily Trust.
“The problem has to do with the high cost of goods in the market. The contractor in charge of the foods said they are being forced by the price of food items to reduce the size of the plate of foods,” he told Daily Trust.
“So, it is the food size that provoked the protest. I don’t think the protest is necessary because the food challenge and the cost of items is a national issues that the federal government is already addressing. And I want to believe that since it is a national issue, whatever step taken by the federal government to address it will be felt everywhere in the country including the Correctional centers.”
SaharaReporters had also reported how residents of Ibadan in Oyo State on 19th of February, 2023 blocked major roads to protest against the economic hardship caused by the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The protest began in Ibadan's Mokola area, and the protesters, mostly youths, barricaded the Mokola under-bridge and the Queen Elizabeth Road.
The members of Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) also held nationwide protests Tuesday and Wednesday to demand immediate intervention of Bola Tinubu’s government.
While commissioning the Lagos Red Line Train connecting Agbado to Oyingbo, the president had said, “Allow me to throw a jab here. The Labour Union should understand that no matter how much we cling to our freedom and rights, to call for strike within 9 months of an administration is unacceptable.”