₦airaland Forum

Aggrieved youths in Edo State on Wednesday blocked the busy Benin–Lagos Expressway at the Ugbowo axis, protesting what they described as worsening economic hardship in the country.

The protest led to heavy traffic gridlock for several hours, leaving commuters and motorists stranded along the ever-busy route.

Eyewitnesses say the youths barricaded sections of the road, disrupting both inbound and outbound movement, while chanting slogans and expressing frustration over the rising cost of living and lack of job opportunities.

The protesters, who did not disclose their identities, carried placards with inscriptions such as “No Jobs,” “Kidnapping Is Now a Money-Making Venture,” and “Tinubu Must Go.”

Security operatives later arrived at the scene, with a police team led by the Divisional Police Officer of the Ugbowo Division intervening to restore order and ease traffic.

Aggrieved youths in Edo State on Wednesday blocked the busy Benin–Lagos Expressway at the Ugbowo axis, protesting what they described as worsening economic hardship in the country.

The youths, however, vowed to sustain the protest until their concerns are addressed by the authorities.

Nigerians groan following some policies by President Bola Tinubu since assuming office on May 29, 2023.

While economists said sweeping reforms were long overdue, they have caused the cost of living to skyrocket.

Major reforms included liberalising the exchange rate and ending costly fuel subsidies.

The masses are also feeling the global effect from the Middle East war, following the United States/Israel strikes against Iran.

The fallout from oil disruptions is reverberating across the world, unsettling lives across the globe as people adjust to fuel price hikes and gas shortages.

Benchmark oil prices are hovering around $100, a surge of around 40 to 50 percent since the war against Iran began to disrupt oil supplies.

Nigeria’s electricity supply is unstable at the best of times, but has worsened in recent weeks due to gas supply shortages, forcing businesses and households to spend more on private power generators.

“I am currently spending more than 33 percent more on fuel than I used to,” Sanni, told AFP.

In Nigeria, petrol prices rose recently from 830 naira a litre in Lagos to 1,250 naira ($0.59 to $0.90) — a record high in a country where the pump price was just 195 naira at the beginning of 2023 — before easing to 1,130.

Public transport fares have jumped by as much as a third adding to the misery of passengers still reeling from a cost of living crisis caused by reforms that slashed fuel subsidies.

Months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to Brazil in August 2025, a much-publicised plan for a direct flight between Lagos and São Paulo has yet to materialise, prompting growing frustration among Nigerians living in the South American country.

During the high-profile trip, Nigeria and Brazil signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) spanning aviation, agriculture, trade, and energy. Central to the aviation deal was a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), which included plans for a direct route to be operated by Air Peace.

The announcement was widely welcomed by Nigerians in Brazil, who viewed the proposed connection as a long-awaited solution to the challenges of travelling between both countries. The direct flight was expected to significantly reduce travel time and costs while boosting economic and cultural ties.

However, months after the agreement, members of the Nigerian community say there has been no progress.

Nigerians living in Brazil have now called on the Federal Government to explain the delay in implementing agreements reached during the visit, warning that key promises remain unfulfilled.

According to community voices, the anticipated rollout of the direct flight and other bilateral initiatives has yet to commence, raising concerns about the commitment to the agreements.

“This is not the first time dreams have been sold to us for political purposes,” a community leader, Baba Oloyede, said.

Frustration is also mounting over other agreements, particularly those relating to agriculture and economic cooperation, which observers say have yet to see tangible implementation despite their strategic importance.

Notably, Nigeria and Brazil had earlier signed major deals, including a billion-dollar agricultural cooperation initiative aimed at boosting food security and mechanised farming.

In August 2025, Air Peace celebrated the move in a publication on its website.

"What we are seeing today is the first fruit of the diplomatic shuttle of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Brazil. In his wisdom, the President has decided to reopen and expand our economic, diplomatic, and trade relations with Brazil. Brazil is the biggest economy in South America, and Nigeria is considered the biggest economy in Africa,” the airline quoted Nigeria's Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, as saying in August 2025.

“Connecting these two economies was very key to both presidents.”

It was also published on the website that "Air Peace’s direct service would simplify travel between Nigeria and Brazil, eliminating the need for long detours through Europe or the Middle East. With the new route, flight time is cut to just seven hours across the Atlantic, a move expected to unlock unprecedented opportunities in trade, tourism, and cultural exchange."

SaharaReporters checked the international routes listed by Air Peace on its website, Brazil was not listed as of the time of filing this report, with only Mumbai, Johannesburg, London and Jeddah listed.

As of now, neither the Nigerian government nor Air Peace has provided a detailed public timeline for the rollout of the promised direct flight or other initiatives, leaving many Nigerians in Brazil demanding greater transparency and accountability.