Photos: Protesters in Nigeria demonstrate over high cost of living

The country is struggling with soaring inflation and a sharply devalued naira currency.

Police in Nigeria have used tear gas to disperse demonstrators in the capital, Abuja, and the northern city of Kano as thousands of people in cities across the country joined rallies to protest the high cost of living.

The country is struggling with soaring inflation and a sharply devalued naira after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ended a costly fuel subsidy and liberalised the currency more than a year ago to improve the economy.

Tagged #EndbadGovernanceinNigeria, the protest movement won support with an online campaign, but officials had warned against attempts to copy recent violent demonstrations in Kenya, where protesters forced the government to abandon new taxes.

Many Nigerians are struggling with high costs – food inflation is at 40 percent and fuel is triple the price from a year ago – but others were also wary about insecurity around protests.

In Kano, the country’s second-largest city, protesters set fire to tyres outside the state governor’s office and police responded with tear gas, forcing most of the demonstrators back, according to AFP news agency.