ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
And with momentum soaring on social media, authorities fear a replay of the deadly 2020 demonstrations against police brutality in this West African nation — or a wave of violence similar to last month’s protests in Kenya, where a tax hike led to chaos in the capital, Nairobi.
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Tricycle drivers queue to buy fuel at a petrol station in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Women sell tomatoes and pepper at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
A man sells sachet drinks on the street in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
People buy food at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Ismaeel Ogunsola, centre, member of take it back movement, who said he will participate in tomorrow's protest, buys vegetables at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Young boys sell groundnuts on the street in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
The government of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu says it is determined to prevent such a scenario in a country that has long been a top African oil producer but whose citizens are among the world’s poorest.
On Wednesday, security forces were deployed on major roads in cities, including the capital of Abuja and the country's largest, Lagos. Authorities touted the positives, appealing to organizers to shelve plans for the protests.
“Is a protest the catalyst for progress we need now? I strongly believe it isn't. Instead, it could undo the modest gains we’ve made,” Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said in a speech.
Nigerian politicians and lawmakers, often accused of corruption, are some of the best-paid in Africa. Even the president’s wife — her office nowhere in the constitution — is entitled to SUVs and other luxuries funded by taxpayers.
Nigeria's population of over 210 million people — the continent's largest — is also among the hungriest in the world and its government has struggled to create jobs.
The current economic hardship under Tinubu, who promised “renewed hope” when he was sworn into office in May 2023, is blamed on surging inflation that is at a 28-year high and the government’s economic policies that have pushed the local currency to record low against the dollar.
Local media have reported that organizers of the protests, which are planned for Thursday, rejected a proposal from Nigeria's police to instead hold rallies in confined spaces — easily controlled by security forces.
“So many people are struggling to stay alive,” Rev. Peter Odogwu said during his Sunday sermon at a church in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
“There is so much hardship and that is why collectively people want to speak out," the Catholic priest said. "But there’s so much opposition from the government trying to discourage people from going out.”
The frustration is widespread, though it is worse in northeastern Nigeria, where the world's longest war on militancy has left 4.8 million people in dire need of food, according to the United Nation's food agency. Nationwide, at least 32 million Nigerians face acute hunger, which is 10% of the global burden, the World Food Program said.
“The malnutrition rates and the rate of food insecurity in the (three northeastern) states have never been as bad as they are this year, but they’ve never been as bad country-wide either,” said David Stevenson, WFP country director in Nigeria.
Tinubu’s aides have sought to defend his achievements and efforts to ease the hardship, citing convoys of food trucks dispatched to the worst-hit states, cash support to families and businesses and a new law that more than doubled the minimum pay of government workers.
But the new minimum monthly wage of $43 is six times lower than what labor unions said they needed to cover for the loss in the value of the naira, Nigeria's currency.
The president's critics also say he has performed below the expectations that catapulted him to power 14 years ago. They point to Nigeria’s deadly security crises in the conflict-battered north and an ailing economy, which was once ranked Africa’s largest but is set to slip to fourth place this year, according to the forecast by the International Monetary Fund.
Tinubu’s economic reforms — including the suspension of decadeslong and costly gas subsidies and measures by the country's central bank such as currency devaluations to halt the distorted foreign exchange rate — were supposed to save the government money and shore up dwindling foreign investments.
However, their poor implementation has had a knock-on effect on the price of just about everything else, analysts say, pointing especially to the absence of adequate and timely support programs.
The suspension of gas subsidies more than doubled the price of petrol.
In a country where millions have little to no electricity, that meant more money spent on fuel for generators and a growing number of people trekking to work because of rising transport costs.
More people are also having to work multiple jobs.
“The work that you’ve never done before, when Tinubu came, all of us began to do it,” said James Ayuba, a laborer who lives in Abuja.
His family has had to move from the city center to the outskirts, where living is cheaper and costs are lower. He also got a second job but his family still struggles to buy food and other basic needs.
“Everything in Nigeria has turned upside down," the father of three said.
Tricycle drivers queue to buy fuel at a petrol station in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Women sell tomatoes and pepper at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
A man sells sachet drinks on the street in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
People buy food at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Ismaeel Ogunsola, centre, member of take it back movement, who said he will participate in tomorrow's protest, buys vegetables at a market in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Young boys sell groundnuts on the street in Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, July. 31, 2024. Frustrated with growing economic hardships, Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Ben Johnson helped Jared Goff establish himself as one of the NFL's top quarterbacks.
Now, he'll try to do something similar for Caleb Williams.
Johnson finalized an agreement to become Chicago's head coach, the Bears announced on Tuesday.
“Having been on the opposing sideline, I can attest to how passionate Bears fans are about this city and their team, and I am honored to be their head coach,” Johnson said in a statement.
This will be the first head coaching job for the 38-year-old Johnson, who was widely considered the top candidate on the market after spending the past three seasons as the Lions offensive coordinator under Dan Campbell. He joined Detroit's staff in 2019 following a seven-year run as an assistant with the Miami Dolphins.
With Johnson overseeing the offense, Goff has thrown for more than 4,400 yards each of the past three seasons. He made two of his four career Pro Bowls in that stretch.
The Lions earned the top seed in the NFC at 15-2 before getting stunned by Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders in a divisional playoff game on Saturday. Detroit led the league in points per game and finished second in yards passing and total yards per game during the regular season.
“Throughout our search process, I was thoroughly impressed by Ben’s character, intelligence, leadership and ability to connect," general manager Ryan Poles said.
"A progressive offensive mind, Ben’s plan for all three phases of our team, which is centered on creating a winning and competitive environment, became evidently clear. Meeting with Ben and gaining an understanding of his process and vision, the more confident we became that Ben is the right leader for our team and that he and I will be great partners in building our team and shaping our franchise for long-term success.”
Team president Kevin Warren praised Poles for the process he “led, orchestrated and executed” and is “grateful” to have Johnson as the Bears coach.
The Bears fired Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29 and replaced him on an interim basis with Thomas Brown. Chicago finished last in the NFC North at 5-12 and lost 10 in a row before closing the season with a win at Green Bay.
The development of Williams will be the top priority for Johnson in the wake of the Bears’ fourth straight losing season. The No. 1 pick in last year’s draft threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. But he was sacked a franchise-record and league-leading 68 times.
Johnson has a fan in Williams.
“I think it’s been really cool to watch,” Williams said two weeks ago, when the Bears cleaned out their lockers. “During our game, I would sit back and watch and try and learn something. It was fascinating to watch. He had wrinkles for counters and things like that throughout the game.”
Johnson had strong praise for Williams before the Bears faced the Lions in Week 16.
“There’s no question that this guy is talented. I remember standing on the sideline last game and you can hear the ball whistle by you," Johnson said.
"He’s got quite a fastball and has some creativity to him, can extend plays and is accurate down the field as well. Like I said, I haven’t really dove in and can tell you much more beyond that, but he’s been impressive from afar.”
The Bears confirmed interviewing 17 candidates. That list included former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy and former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, who got the job in New England.
Chicago has just three playoff appearances since the 2006 team won the NFC. The Bears’ lone Super Bowl title came during the 1985 season.
Chicago has not won a postseason game since the 2010 team advanced to the conference title game under Lovie Smith. Johnson becomes their sixth head coach since then, not including Brown.
In three years under Poles, the Bears are 15-36 with two double-digit losing streaks. They dropped their final 10 games in 2022 while in a teardown mode as part of a franchise-worst 14-game slide.
"We are elated to welcome Ben and his family to the Bears and the greatest city in the world,” chairman George McCaskey said. “Ben’s leadership, poise, preparation and detail are evident. We certainly appreciate the first-class manner in which he approached this process. We are excited to see him lead our Bears.”
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Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson watches during warmups before an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Washington Commanders, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)