Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, is in turmoil as a protest over the scarcity of Naira notes erupts in the early hours of Friday, February 17.
The news comes just a day after President Muhammadu Buhari declared that the old N500 and N1000 notes are no longer legal tender.
11:04 AM
Riot spreads to Ogun communities as naira woes worsen
Riots over the lingering new naira policy and fuel scarcity have spread to Ogun communities, according to The Punch.
It was gathered that the protesters barricaded the Mowe end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and turned back motorists and travellers.
The protesters resisted police intervention and threatened to set the police station in the area ablaze.
10:25 AM
Naira scarcity: Security operatives quell Lagos protests
Meanwhile, a report by The Nation also confirmed that security operatives, comprising riot policemen and soldiers from Operation MESA, have been deployed to Mile 12- Ojota axis where hoodlums staged a violent uprising over the cash scarcity.
10:20 AM
Naira notes crisis: Market women reportedly stage anti-Buhari protest
The protest has spread to the Sango area of Ogun state. Sango is one of the communities linking Lagos and Ogun states.
According to Leadership, market women staged an anti-Buhari protest over the rejection of the old N1,000 notes and the scarcity of new Naira notes in the Sango area of Ogun state, on Friday morning.
10:16 AM
Naira scarcity: Protest rocks Sabo roundabout, Ikorodu, Lagos
The protest, according to Vanguard, has spread to Sabo roundabout, Ikorodu.
9:41 AM
Lagos police command gives update
Speaking on TVC News’s Your View monitored by Legit.ng, Lagos police spokesman Hundeyin said the cause of the protest is yet to be ascertained.
He, however, noted that there have been “rumours” that the unrests have to do with the Naira notes scarcity crisis.
Hundeyin said no casualty has been recorded, adding that normalcy has been restored.
The police spokesman also said no arrest has been made.
9:30 AM
Naira notes scarcity: Protest spreads to Agege, Iyana-Ipaja
A report emerging from Vanguard indicates that the Naira scarcity protest has spread to other areas in Lagos, including Iyana-Ipaja, Agege and Iyana-Iba.
Motorists and residents who were on their way to different places of work hurriedly turned back in panic as the rioters went berserk with bonfires set across the road.
9:25 AM
Lagos Police command confirms development in Mile 12
Reacting to a Twitter user, the spokesman of the Lagos police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said it is true that there has been unrest in Ketu/Mile 12.
“It is true. Our men are there. Reinforcement units have been deployed. Stay safe out there as we closely monitor and manage the situation,” he said.
9:19 AM
Rejection of old Naira notes reportedly cause protest in Ketu/Mile 12 areas of Lagos
A violent protest has erupted in the Ketu/ Mile 12 areas of Lagos state causing serious traffic along the Ikorodu expressway.
The protesters blocked the expressway with bonfires while many vehicles were reportedly vandalised in the process.
According to Nigerian Tribune, the protest started following the rejection of the old notes of N1000 and N500 by traders in the area.
The protesters stormed Mile-12, Ketu, Ojota area, along Ikorodu Road.
The newspaper, however, noted that some military men timely intervened and prevented the situation from degenerating into loss of lives.